The El Sayed Foundation supports the Etran Finatawa Cultural Awareness Project in Niger
June 2010
Implementation of cultural projects in educational programmes is an important and active part of development intervention. In a time of conflict, poverty and growing negative effects of globalisation in Niger, The El Sayed Foundation, along with Al Madad Foundation and David fox Pitt, supports the Etran Finatawa Cultural Awareness Project.
Multi award nominated Nigerian band Etran Finatawa are the only group in the world to combine the cultures of the Wodaabe and Touareg people from Niger, and use them in modern contexts. With over 100 hundred concerts worldwide Etran Finatawa have become cultural ambassadors shedding global light on Niger, the poorest country in the world. Through workshops with youth worldwide and exchanges with various musicians from around the world, Etran Finatawa have deepened public interest in African desert nomadic cultures such as the Tuareg, Wodaabe, toubou and Boudouma.
However Nomadic people are very often stigmatised in Niger and prejudices between tribes are widespread. Since the rebellion of certain Tuareg groups in 2007, ethnic questions and intercultural misunderstandings are growing. With a focus on children and school tours in various towns and villages in Niger, the Etran Finatawa Cultural Awareness Project, with support from the Ministry of Education in Niger, aims to work against this kind of ethnic division and to rebuild peace and reconciliation between the different tribes in Niger. The initiative not only promotes peace through music between peoples of different ethnic
backgrounds in Niger and indeed Africa as a whole, but also instils pride in ones cultural heritage and traditions.
Through the Etran Finatawa Cultural Awareness Project, Etran Finatawa along with award winning Mamane Barka go from school to school in Niger teaching children through workshops and small concerts about traditional music and instruments, various aspects and similarities between different nomadic tribes with a focus on Tuareg and Wodaabe cultures, and most importantly creating an environment for future peace, pride and hope.
View the documentary "Niger- the rolling musical lesson" on the Etran Finatawa Cultural Awareness Project by Jean Molitor:
To watch a CNN special on Etran Finatawa visit: http://edition.cnn.com
For further information visit: www.worldmusic.net
www.etranfinatawa.com