Monday
Apr182011
WELCOME TO THE OFFICIAL SITE FOR THE FESTIVAL RAPANDAR!
St. Louis, Senegal
Festival RAPANDAR - Special Report
By: President of L'Association 10,000 Problemes, Sidy DIOP
Dear Friends and Loyal Partners,
As you know, for the past 8 years, RAPANDAR has proved itself to the city and proved itself a force in the cultural development of the region.
You have worked hard all these years to give hope to our youth and to support their initiatives within the region. RAPANDAR is currently a part of the National Cultural Agenda and the Cultural Agenda of the city of St. Louis.
As you also know, the people of the region have supported the festival through the Syndicat d'Initiative and local hotels have always kept their commitments to RAPANDAR by consistently hosting the festival's guest for free. This has been possible with the help of the Governor, the Prefect, the Prime Minister's special counsel, Mrs. Fabienne Diouf, the daughter of the former President of Senegal, the President of the Economic Council, Mr. Ousmane Masseck Diaye and also with help of Senegalese journalists who have always reported faithfully on our progress.
However, in 2011, RAPANDAR did not receive support by some in the region such as the City Hall of St. Louis and the Conseil Regional. We also lost grants from Nescafe, ANPT and the Tourism Office of Senegal. The population was our major supporter of the project this past year.
Therefore, I raise the question: what has happened to the agreements with cities that work with St. Louis on social and cultural projects?
In these agreements signed by the Mayor of St. Louis and the Conseil Regional, RAPANDAR's projects had been recognized and a working partnership with the region had been planned.
While representatives from many different countries traveled to St. Louis to participate in training for the youth of St. Louis, how can the City Hall, those firstly responsible for the city, not respect their commitments to its youth?
All the former mayors who have supported this project, even after finishing their terms, continue to support the festival!
So now everyone must ask himself or herself where has the city's cultural budget gone? Where has it been spent?
The Ministry of Culture, which has kept its commitments, the Embassy of France in Senegal along with Mr. Jean-Luc Le bras and his colleagues, as well as the Senegalese people know very well that RAPANDAR has become the largest festival for the youth in Senegal and perhaps even in all of Africa. This festival has the power to truly support the city's development because without culture, tourism will not grow.
During these 8 years, we have fought and the population has fought to produce the festival. We have not always received support and today everyone knows why we made the decision to cancel the festival in 2012. The people who are supposed to help us bring life to the city, help us give hope to the youth and a chance to overcome the violence, have not given us their support.
There were 14 young artists who were waiting to be heard, waiting to be discovered through the production of a collaborative album, who have essentially been forgotten!
In my view, culture is the soul of the earth because learning new cultures gives us the experiences to become tolerant. Thanks to cultural exchange and tourism, we have solidarity between countries. It is culture that has given rise to cultural exchange and has allowed us to build a better world. Only an artist can convey a message that everyone can share and relate to, never someone void of culture or our country's so-called "intellectuals" (my fellow artist understand what I mean).
Intellectual of what? To what degree? What intelligence are we talking about? Have they experienced suffering? Lack of work? Discrimination? Corruption and the will of the powerful continue to reign over us. They act in their own personal interest. They are well networked. They have money and power and believe that with all that, they can destroy any project. But fortunately, some people will never be diverted from the cause, will never be corrupted and will always remain faithful because they understand St. Louis does not belong to them, but to future generations.
This new generation deserves our promise of a better future. And I know that the population has done so much for its children. Our "intelligentsia" following personal interests should understand that our rappers and journalists are free and will not be manipulated. They should understand that corruption will always be illegal and it will always be true that it is the people who decide and who have the power to vote. It is impossible to corrupt an entire population!
How many years have we been promised a Cultural Center? How many promises have not been kept?
I would like to send a message to the people of St. Louis and especially the youth: these are not the people who will give us a prosperous future!
Corruption and manipulation through money will not continue to work! Even if before we felt we didn't have a choice, the Senegalese know now we have a choice!
I heard a man say that money can buy any African, he will do as he is told and that even an unknowing man can be compelled to do the unthinkable for money.
This is why now, in 2012, the world must change and we must change mindsets. Good has not been lost and therefore we must take on our responsibility to support the youth who want to do good for their city.
Politicians depend on the people and not vice versa. And it's only when someone is intimidated that they are susceptible to manipulation. But, we must not be intimidated or afraid, and in fact, the politicians are the ones who should be afraid. We have had an awakening, we are intelligent, maybe more intelligent than these manipulators who think only of their personal interest.
We must seize this opportunity!
Through the ages, many different people have lived in St. Louis, the Spanish, Portuguese and French... And each of these people has left their mark on St. Louis and has had children who are now the children of St. Louis. For several years now as well, Americans have lived in St. Louis, had parties and shared experiences with our youth...all this is what makes St. Louis' history rich, we want to share St. Louis with people and we welcome everyone into our homes. This is our truth and people who have never visited St. Louis or never travelled here will not be the ones telling us our history. I wish one day that my son can travel freely and visit a place like this some day.
It has been a long time since I've seen a young St. Louis native succeed in his or her own business, like a restaurant or some other company. Even if they have been born here and want to stay, there is unfortunately people that have prevented them from building their future or who destroy their prospects, all out of jealousy. But this has to change and that system has to disappear.
I'm hopeful that one day, in a few years, the Festival RAPANDAR will return. But we must first find out where is the money that the state was given and second, hold accountable the people who were given that money to manage in the name of St. Louis. Money does not cast a vote, the people are ones voting and you cannot corrupt an entire city. I love the people of St. Louis and I'm not intending to influence them. The people of St. Louis will vote for whomever they choose. But we love St. Louis, we have lived here since our birth and we are ready for things to change.
The Festival RAPANDAR never had problems with its partners and sponsors, so today I will not listen to manipulators nor to rumors being spread about corrupted partners who no longer want to fund the festival.
The discrimination against and corruption of artists in this country has to stop. Say STOP to candidates who know nothing of culture and believe they will succeed in being elected President through the support of a few and the corruption of artists. True artists will never accept that abuse.
The people of Senegal know we are not involved in politics in this way. International support does not elect our Presidents. Money no longer decides. For this generation, the Senegalese people will decide, with their voter registration cards and their votes. In Africa, the youth are intelligent; they are completing their studies. The Senegalese people no longer want to see their children study for years, finish their studies and get their diploma, but then can't find a job because only money and connections open opportunities.
Today in Senegal, we are no longer prisoners. We must no longer allow ourselves to be manipulated and used by politicians who stand for nothing and who do nothing but cheat and exploit.
It is time for the Senegalese to have their voices heard and develop their country. It is time to stop voting for thugs who keep stealing money from our country. These thugs, who are supported by thugs in other countries, do nothing for the youth who are starving. These thugs, who are ready to sacrifice those who know their secrets, will continue to serve their personal interests.
Africa can change. But firstly, the people responsible for helping Africa develop, must stop making money on the backs of the impoverished.
Sidy Diop
10,000 Problems
Monday
Apr112011
Opening Events for Festival RAPANDAR 2011
Monday, April 11, 2011 at 9:52PM OPENING EVENTS FOR WEDNESDAY, APRIL 27th - St. Louis, Senegal
- 5pm - Leaving from Syndicat d'Initiative, tour of the city with all the partners and sponsors guests.
- 7pm - Reception at the GAINZ'BAR in the Institut Francais of St. Louis for all festival's guest, participants and patrons.
- 8pm - Opening Ceremony on the Main Stage at the Insitut Francais
- 9pm - IN Concert on the Main Stage at the Insitut Francais, featuring the following artists:
- Quartier Bon Son (Switzerland)
- Juddah (Cameroon)
- Sentinel (Lyon, France)
- Dread Maxim (Senegal)
Thursday
Jul172008
RAPANDAR 2011 - APRIL 27 - 30th in Saint Louis, Senegal
Thursday, July 17, 2008 at 8:37PM 
Didier AWADI - DAKAR, SENEGAL
ALL ARTISTS AND PARTNERS WILL BE FINALIZED BY MARCH 5, 2011.
CALENDAR OF EVENTS:
April 18 - 27, 2011 - Festival Training - for the youth of St. Louis including dancing, writing, audio engineering, cultural exchange with representatives from other countries like France, USA, Mali, Mauritania, Guinea, among others.
April 27th - Official Opening at the French Institute of St. Louis at 5pm
April 28 - 30th - IN STAGE at the French Institute of St. Louis starting at 9pm nightly.
April 28 - 30th - OFF STAGE in the Place Faidherbe starting at 6pm nightly.
The Patrons of Festival RAPANDAR 2011
Serigne Mamadou Bousso LEYE, Minister of Culture, Senegal
Jean Luc LE BRAS, Head of the Cultural Cooperation of the French Embassy in Senegal
Pape Massens Sene, Special Counsel to the Prime Minister of Senegal
