It was at the CICB, last Wednesday, November 20, as part of the celebration of International Children’s Day, that the musical comedy called ”Ben Ani Keleya” was presented to the general public. This is a project concocted by the artist Fatoumata Diawara known as ”Sia” through her Association ”Tougouné” in partnership with UNICEF Mali and the Cité des Enfants.
The large ”Djéli Baba Sissoko” room at the CICB was packed with children for this day dedicated to them. They came to follow an artistic performance held in the presence of the following officials: the former Minister for the Promotion of Women, Children and Families, Coulibaly Mariam Maïga, that of Health and Social Development, Colonel Assa Badiallo Touré and the outgoing Minister of Culture, Andogoly Guindo. Also taking part in this meeting were the Director of the Children’s City, Amina Cissé known as Tata Amina and her Deputy N’Famara Keïta as well as the deputy representative of UNESCO in Mali, Andrea Berther and the president of parliament of the Children of Mali, Imarre Ag Mohamed.
Indeed, the national theme for the 35th anniversary of World Children’s Day was: “Protecting Children’s Rights in the Face of Climate Change”. Which will make the deputy representative of UNESCO in Mali, Andrea Berther, say that this year, the impact of climate change has had significant repercussions on our society. For that ; she wanted to salute the Government for having chosen this crucial subject as the national theme for this day. That 35 years after the adoption of the Convention on the Rights of the Child, it is essential to attest that Mali was one of the first countries to ratify this convention, in favor of the promotion and protection of rights of every child is a fact that deserves to be celebrated.
In collaboration with UNICEF and the Cité des Enfants, UNICEF’s champion of children’s rights in Mali, Malian artist Fatoumata Diawara, as well as a multitude of other Malian artists of the new generation, produced a song called ”KASSILA”. This work aims to promote the rights of all children, with particular emphasis on those living with disabilities.
“This day is an opportunity for me to go through children to come to my homeland because I don’t often have the opportunity…” declared artist Fatoumata Diawara.
According to her, this show is a way to bring all children together so that they know that they are equal, especially those with disabilities. She later said that she had always considered herself an ambassador for children, even in her musical career. With the completion of this project, ”Sia” indicates that she will always be at the side of little ones.
As for Minister Maïga, after welcoming the initiative, she considered that this day gives Children the opportunity to express themselves and share their opinion on issues concerning them. This, through expressions such as music, dance and theater. On the theme of the musical ”Ben Ani Keleya” (fraternity and harmony), according to him, this is in more than one way evocative, given the context of the Malian crisis and which continues to affect population protection systems, particularly children who are by far the most affected. She thus called for a synergy of action by all actors involved in the field of child protection to strengthen the system targeting children in general and those living with disabilities in particular.
Mariam Sissoko
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