Thiès : des acteurs culturels dénoncent leur exclusion des festivités du 4 avril
As Senegal's Independence Day celebrations approach, controversy is growing in Thiès. Cultural figures in the city are denouncing their exclusion from the organization of the festivities, pointing the finger at the mayor, Babacar Diop.
Gathered around several figures from the local arts scene, they expressed their frustration at what they described as a "lack of consideration." Speaking on behalf of the group, singer Ma Sané, lead vocalist of Waflash, strongly criticized the lack of involvement of local talent.
According to her, the organization of such a large-scale national event in the city should have been an opportunity to showcase Thiès' artists. "If Thiès hosts a national celebration like April 4th, all Thiès residents should be involved, especially the artists," she stated.
Cultural stakeholders believe this celebration could have served as a showcase to promote local artistic talent and provide economic benefits for young artists. "There is a wealth of talent in all cultural fields in Thiès, but it has been ignored," they lament.
At the heart of the criticism is the scheduling of Wally Seck for a major concert. While the critics say they don't fundamentally reject this choice, they regret the lack of balance.
“We have nothing against Wally Seck, he is a son of the country. But the mayor should have, at the very least, involved local artists,” emphasizes Ma Sané.
The artists also point out a contradiction in the mayor's statements. According to them, Babacar Diop cited a lack of budget to justify the absence of local artists' involvement, while simultaneously funding the appearance of the artist Wally Seck.
"This looks like a lack of respect towards the cultural players of Thiès," they denounce, calling for better consideration of local talent in future initiatives.
Beyond the controversy, cultural actors are calling for more inclusive governance, where the city's artists would be more involved in major events.
"Thiès belongs to the people of Thiès. It is only right that its artists be showcased during major celebrations," they concluded.
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