Bambara Celebration at Festival on the Niger 2009

The 5th Edition of  Festival on the Niger (Festival sur le Niger) will start on January 28th with a "trip back to the source of the festival" in the city of M’Peba, hometown of Malian musical icon Bamzoumana Cissoko.The opening ceremony will take place by the water on the evening of Thursday, January 29th. It will be a reenactment of a traditional Bambara celebration ceremony called ”Famakadisongo,” famous for its sounds and lights.

The 5th edition of the Festival on the Niger will be held in Segu (Segou), Mali, January 28 through February 1. The 2009 edition will features well known artists from Mali, as well as musicians from nearby West African countries, as well as Portugal and Mexico.

The line up scheduled for 2009 is Oumou Sangare, Abdoulaye Diabaté, Oumar Koita, Coumba Gawlo (Senegal), Narimbo (Mexico), Bassekou Kouyate, Mamar Kass (Niger), Atlantida (Portugal), Super Biton de Ségou, Les Amazones (Guinea), Haira Harby, Adja Soumano, Mamadou Diabate, Babani Kone.

In addition to the concerts, there will be art exhibitions together with panels and conferences about globalization, migration and cultural identity.

More information at http://festivalsegou.org