Festival: Culture and Politics in a Changing Mali

The Festival sur le Niger in Ségou, Mali, unfolded this year amid significant political and security challenges in West Africa. As thousands gathered along the banks of the Niger River to celebrate Malian music, theater, and arts, the festival also reflected the shifting political landscape. Mali’s recent withdrawal from ECOWAS, alongside Burkina Faso and Niger, and the uncertainty surrounding the military junta’s commitment to elections cast a shadow over the event. Rebranded as the “Week of AES Fraternity” in reference to the Alliance of Sahel States (AES), the festival featured prominent displays of junta leaders’ portraits, adding a political tone to the cultural gathering.

Mali has long been a cultural powerhouse, but growing insecurity and geopolitical realignments have threatened its artistic scene. Events like the Festival in the Desert have disappeared due to jihadist violence, while the Rencontres de Bamako photography biennale struggles with limited funding after losing French sponsorship. This shift mirrors Mali’s diplomatic realignment, as the ruling junta distances itself from France and deepens ties with Russia. The presence of Russian flags alongside Malian ones during the festival symbolized this new partnership, underscoring the intersection of culture and foreign policy in Mali’s evolving reality.

Despite these challenges, the Malian government has declared 2025 the “Year of Malian Culture,” signaling a strategic focus on arts and identity amid ongoing crises. Culture Minister Mamou Daffe, the festival’s founder, emphasized the country’s artistic wealth as a vital resource. While security concerns remain, authorities see culture as a means of preserving national unity and maintaining Mali’s influence on the global stage. The Festival sur le Niger thus remains a testament to Mali’s enduring cultural spirit, even as political and security tensions reshape its future.

A.P