FINAL CONFERENCE

The AZALAI – Laboratoire Nomade project, supported by the Culture programme of the European Union, arises from the cooperation among six cultural organisations of the following countries: Italy, France, Belgium, Netherlands, Hungary and Serbia.
The aim is to create a platform for dialogue, construction and expression of the African identities beyond the continent and in light of the new cultural relations with contemporary Europe, through actions of musical creation in residency, training, concerts, lectures and cultural exchanges that might facilitate the creation of networks of cooperation between Europe and Africa.

Mali – Europe – Morocco: a cultural caravan

After two years of research, creative residencies and performances across France, Italy, Serbia, Netherlands, Belgium and Hungary, AZALAI – Laboratoire nomade returns symbolically to Africa, in the Morocco desert, with a conference in collaboration with the Festival Taragalte of M’hamid el Ghizlane (15-17 November).
A moment of reflection – with the partners of the project and other professionals and international experts – on the role of culture in the economic and social development of African countries and in the pacification of conflicting areas, on interaction and collaboration strategies at an artistic level between institutions and professionals of culture from Europe and Africa, on the promotion of human rights and of peace through forms of cultural cooperation.

Together with the conference, the project foresees the presentation of the artistic results of the AZALAI musical caravan into Africa after its long European journey.

Programme:

h 11:00 – 11:15
Welcome from the authorities

h 11:15 – 13:00
Morocco as a crossroad. Experiences of cultural encounter for reconciliation in the Sahara and beyond.
Issa Dicko (Mali) – Expert in Sahel-Saharan cultures
Saida Azizi (Morocco) – Founder of the Moroccan Centre for popular heritage and manuscripts

h 15:00 – 17:00
Festivals in the Sahara and AZALAI. For a cultural nomadism between Africa and Europe.
Manny Ansar (Mali) – Festival au Désert director
Rockyatou Attaye (Mali) – Festival au Désert environment manager / local development
Halim Sbai (Morocco) – Zaila association president and Festival Taragalte director
Ibrahim Sbai (Morocco) – Festival Taragalte artistic director
Marta Amico (Italy) – AZALAI – Laboratoire nomade project Manager
Maurizio Busìa (Italy) – Festival au Désert/Presenze d’Africa of Florence artistic director
Maurizia Settembri (Italy) – Festival Fabbrica Europa artistic director
Marina Bistolfi (Italy) – Fondazione Fabbrica Europa vice-president
Fruzsina Szep (Hungary) – Sziget Festival artistic director
Adrienn Hiller (Hungary) – Sziget Festival program coordinator
Danka Van Dodewaard (Netherlands) – Festival Roots / Melkweg
Edo Wouter Bouman (Netherlands) – Festival Roots / Melkweg
Vladimir Vodalov (Serbia) – Festival Exit programme director
Biljana Milivojev (Serbia) – Festival Exit
Patrick N’Siala Kiese (Belgium) – Festival Sfinks
Milena Dabetic (France) – Festival Wazemmes l’Accordéon
Dimitri Grechi Espinoza (Italy) – Musician
Said Tichiti (Morocco/Hungary) – Musician

Projection AZALAI photo reportage by Barbara Lomonaco

h 17:00 – 17:30
AZALAI unplugged. Dimitri Grechi Espinoza (sax) and Said Tichiti (guembri-voice)

h 17:30 – 19:00
Projection film “Woodstock in Timbuktu” by Désirée Von Throta

h 20:00
Concert/creation «Caravan Blues»
The AZALAI artists «Saïd Tichiti (Morocco/Hungary) and Dimitri Grechi Espinoza (Italy)» – Oum (Morocco) – Khaira Harby (Mali) – Amanar (Mali) – Kiran Ahluwalia (India) – Lise Hannik (France) – Aziz Fayet / Aflak (France/Morocco) – groupe Ganga (Morocco) – Mallal (Morocco) – Mariama Kone (Mali) – Charky Blues (Netherlands) – Mariama Kone – Taragalte (Morocco)

Videos:
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=0Z0yybqtQn4
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=_NFyWrMOavk
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=SgW_3YrqAII&feature=youtu.be

photo: Les Arts Alliés