Above the artisanal village of Thiès, a sort of ”paradise” of the arts lost in the 10th, a peaceful populous district of the rail capital, hovers a fairly mild sky. At the entrance, a gardener with a face marked by time and harsh outdoor life. Here, we happily tread the ground of an artistic space. A site where order is essential. This is evidenced by the layout of the buildings with colonial architecture: old, tall buildings aligned symmetrically.
According to Moustapha Sarr, artisan, the Artisanal Village of Thiès, which has always been a symbol of cultural and artisanal wealth, is today in the grip of a serious crisis linked to the shortage of raw materials. Artisans, who create unique objects, ranging from wood, metal, leather, fabric and beaded crafts, find themselves limited in their ability to produce, due to the rising costs of materials and their rarity. This lack of resources compromises the quality and quantity of creations, making it difficult to compete in the market, he emphasizes.
Within the confines of the artistic space, in her workshop, the sculptor Dame Guèye holds a piece of wood in her arms and, without tongue in cheek, adds: ”We mainly use local materials, but with the rise in prices and the difficulty of finding certain products, we are forced to reduce our production. We can no longer manufacture as many parts as before, which directly impacts our revenue. If this situation continues, many artisans risk closing their workshops’’.
This lack of raw materials is particularly problematic for artisans who depend on specific materials, often imported or rare, to create quality works. Wood of certain species, high-quality leather or even traditional fabrics are increasingly difficult to find at affordable prices.
The Artisanal Village suffers from a lack of visibility
In addition to the problems linked to raw materials, another crucial factor contributes to the drop in attendance at the Artisanal Village: the absence of effective communication and promotion. Despite the richness and diversity of the products offered, the village struggles to attract new customers, both national and international.
-Thus, craftsmen complain about this lack of visibility. They believe that communication efforts around the Artisanal Village are often insufficient, which limits the reach of artisanal products to a wide audience. Unlike other regions, where the craft market is well promoted, that of Thiès does not seem to benefit from a “clear marketing strategy” or “regular promotion”, which considerably reduces the number of visitors.
Organization of fairs and regular events
To overcome these problems, Mamadou Ndiaye recommends organizing more frequent craft events, workshops and exhibitions, in order to attract a wider clientele, including tourists, art lovers and local businesses interested in artisanal products. . ”It is important to train artisans in new techniques, the use of digital tools for sales and the management of a modern craft business. A mentoring program could be set up to encourage innovation and adaptation to the market”, he suggests.
According to him, crafts represent an important part of our culture and our economy. So, he said, ‘‘If we don’t receive help, we risk seeing an activity that supports many families disappear. We ask the authorities to recognize the importance of our work and to support us financially, so that we can continue to transmit our know-how’’.
Residents of the Thiès Artisanal Village identify several other possible solutions to improve their situation and breathe new life into the sector, in particular easier access to raw materials. To this end, they ask the State and private partners to facilitate the supply of materials, by subsidizing or reducing taxes on essential raw materials. This would reduce production costs and improve the competitiveness of artisanal products.
