Thursday November 14, 2024, the UNESCO headquarters in Paris resonated with the melodies of the legendary Xalam2. The event, which took place at UNESCO headquarters in Paris, celebrated the memory of the late Amadou Mahtar M’Bow, former Director General of UNESCO and the first African to head a United Nations institution.
Chosen for the musical sequence, Xalam2 seized this moment to highlight M’Bow’s profound impact on the African cultural scene and his lasting influence on the continent’s artists.
Taffa Cissé, percussionist of the group, shared a personal testimony recalling with pride his passage through Mudra Afrique, the prestigious Senegalese school of artistic excellence, driven by President Léopold Sédar Senghor and supported by Amadou Mahtar M’Bow, and having shaped his career and that of many African artists.
Taffa Cissé also highlighted M’Bow’s constant commitment to African culture: “M’Bow has always been present for African culture and the arts, allowing artists to maintain hope of being able to continue transmitting African cultural baggage. ” He added that Xalam2’s multilingual approach, singing in various African languages, is partly inspired by M’Bow’s pan-African vision.
“Amadou Mahtar M’Bow contributed to opening our eyes to culture, art, cultural identities, and to the idea of a united Africa,” he added.
This performance by Xalam2 at UNESCO reaffirms the essential role of artists in the preservation of collective memory and the celebration of figures who have shaped the history of Senegal and Africa. It also highlights the continued importance of cultural institutions in the artistic development of the continent and the promotion of a united and diverse African identity.
“Amadou Mahtar M’Bow embodied African excellence on the international scene,” Henri Guillabert, originally from Saint-Louis like M’Bow, would later say. “He proved that Africa could shine at the highest global levels. His commitment to cultural diversity and education has had a profound impact on our generation of artists and continues to inspire, we hope, young African talents” according to Ibrahima Coundoul.
Xalam2’s musical tribute to M’Bow perfectly illustrates how the legacy of a great man can continue to inspire and guide artists, even decades after his time at UNESCO, thus strengthening the links between cultural diplomacy , education and the performing arts in Africa.
