{"id":17489,"date":"2021-10-14T06:26:09","date_gmt":"2021-10-14T06:26:09","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.ndarason.com\/?p=17489"},"modified":"2022-11-15T10:52:28","modified_gmt":"2022-11-15T09:52:28","slug":"the-sahel-song-is-a-song-of-hope-in-a-region-in-acute-crisis","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/ndarason.com\/en\/the-sahel-song-is-a-song-of-hope-in-a-region-in-acute-crisis\/","title":{"rendered":"The Sahel Song is a song of hope in a region in acute crisis"},"content":{"rendered":"

\u00a0<\/strong>The Sahel is marked by the stunning, quiet beauty of its landscape and its rich and varied cultures \u2013 but in reality, this region faces one of the world\u2019s fastest-growing humanitarian crisis.<\/p>\n

In the past year, almost 29 million people in the region were in need of life-saving assistance and protection. This was an increase of more than 5 million people compared with last year.\u00a0Conflict was the main cause of the increase in needs and displacement in the region.\u00a0Between 2015 and 2020, the number of violent attacks increased eightfold in the central Sahel and tripled in the Lake Chad Basin.<\/p>\n

But the United Nations and a mix of artists from the area are hoping their initiative will bring awareness the crisis in the region.<\/p>\n

The initiative \u2013 by the United Nations Office for the Coordination of Humanitarian Affairs (OCHA) and a diverse mix of Sahelian artists \u2013 have got together to create a one-of-a-kind, five-minute composition of rich instruments and vocals. The Sahel Song celebrates the hope and culture of a region in acute crisis.<\/p>\n

Together, artists Vieux Farka Toure\u0301, Oumy Gueye, Amadou & Mariam, Tal National, Songhoy Blues and Bassekou Kouyate celebrate the Sahel\u2019s vibrant musical culture to bring awareness to the immense challenges.<\/p>\n

OCHA said in a report released on Tuesday, October 12, that the humanitarian situation in the Sahel was deteriorating quickly and significantly. People\u2019s needs across the region were now at unprecedented levels, and their vulnerabilities were deepening and increasing because of escalating conflict, rising food insecurity, multiplying climate emergencies and the COVID-19 pandemic.<\/p>\n

Bounena Sidi Mouhamed, the deputy head of OCHA\u2019s regional office for West and Central Africa, said: \u201cMusic is the best way to convey messages.\u00a0Awakening the conscience is of capital importance.\u00a0This has a strong impact on what is happening in our countries. This song pays tribute to the resilience, generosity, solidarity and strength that Sahelians continue to demonstrate, despite the crisis that surrounds them, as well as to their vibrant music and cultural heritage.\u201d<\/em><\/p>\n

The Sahel Song was written by Vieux Farka Tour\u00e9, who also took care of the production.<\/p>\n

The lyrics speak directly to young people, who make up the majority of the population of the Sahel.<\/p>\n

The song conveys a message of peace, solidarity and hope for a prosperous future in the Sahel, enabling everyone the opportunity to flourish.\u00a0But to achieve this goal, continued commitment and investment was required.<\/p>\n

\u201cThe youth must show courage, strength and fight against this crisis.\u00a0Peace and solidarity are instrumental.\u00a0It is only by having peace between us that we wil have it tomorrow for our children,\u201d <\/em>said Vieux Farka Tour\u00e9, a Malian singer and guitarist.<\/p>\n

Amadou and Mariam, a musical husband-and-wife duo from Mali, said: \u201cWe wanted to tell people that we must stand up and join hands so that the Sahel can move forward and change things.\u201d<\/p>\n

Oumy Gueye (OMG), a young Senegalese singer and rapper, said: \u201cWe should refocus on ourselves, our culture and our values to build a more stable Sahel where everyone feels at home.\u201d<\/p>\n

\u201cNothing remains but to make peace between us,\u201d Tal National, considered as Niger\u2019s most popular band, said.<\/p>\n

\u201cLet\u2019s join hands to end the war that is tearing out region apart,\u201d said Songhoy Blues, a band comprising four talented, determined, sharp and outward-looking young men from Mali.<\/p>\n