the essential
The concert by the five Senegalese musicians from Jigeen Ni will be preceded by the screening of a film about their group, Sunday at 5 p.m., at Fond de la Coste.
Jigeen Ni is the name that five young Senegalese women have chosen to give to their 100% female orchestra. They will be guests of the 1 Kilo d’cirque association on Sunday, at 5 p.m., at a place called Fond de la Coste. The group, currently in Toulouse for a while, will travel for a unique concert.
In the first part, a documentary film by Adrien Cotonat on their story will be screened. “Jigeen Ni” means “These women!” in Wolof (1). From the practice of music, they draw a deep joy, a vital energy, a freedom of being that they want to communicate. And despite the difficulties they have to overcome to bring this artistic practice into their daily lives, despite the prejudices they face, they say they are not ready to give up.
Three years with the group
“During a stay in Dakar at the end of 2019, I was asked to produce the first music video for Jigeen Ni, indicates the film’s director, Adrien Cotonat. Knowing the weak structure of the music sector in Senegal and the lack of status for the artists, I wonder how can we go about it when we are a group of women, instrumentalists, and we want to keep our orchestra alive at all costs.”
Adrien Cotonat followed the training course of the Jigeen Ni group over three years. “Links of trust were formed from the area of observation of the life of the orchestra to that of the more personal life of the five young women who form it.”
Among the film’s rave reviews, we can read this one: “Jigeen Ni offers us a deep immersion into the lives of these Senegalese musicians, pushing back barriers and challenges. Their passion and resilience are inspiring and admirable, magnificently captured by the accuracy of the camera. A journey on culture and female emancipation, not to be missed.
Doors open at 4:30 p.m., film at 5 p.m. lasting 1 hour 13 minutes then concert. Entrance: €10, reduced rate €8.
