Nous devons être un catalyseur en favorisant et en mettant en relief l’excellence artistique dans les collectivités africaines de toutes les régions du Royaume-Uni. Si tu aimerais que tes efforts soient mis en vedette sur ce site, envoie-nous un courriel! africancultureblog@gmail.com | Cet poste concerne La Soirée de Tabaski et de l’Indépendance du Mali organisée par le Conseil des Maliens du Royaume-uni le 1 octobre 2016 et est uniquement disponible en anglais pour le moment.
On a calm yet windy early evening in South London; sounds of music and laughter can be heard from afar in the SE15 district. Noises of children running around, Afrobeats, people driving on their way to or from respective community events and traffic on the main roads remind of familiar sight of Queens Road in Peckham.
However, rather than attending another Nigerian, Ghanaian or Congolese event; a very small but growing African community was in town and is in town calling London and the UK it’s home. After receiving a warm invite from Mr. Wilfired Wiley (pictured above, on the left) on behalf of the Malian Community. All Malians were invited. I also came along; and the rest as they say’ was history.
London’s Francophone African Community has often been dominated by Cameroonian, Ivorians and Congolese. In the last year however, whilst Gabonese and Guineans have been discovered in small pockets across the UK capital over the past five years; it’s the Malian community that I caught up with last week in South East London. The ambiance, colourful dresses, smiles and food was great and the dances, chivalry and lauaghter was clearly evident on show. Mali’s independence day falls on September 22; and earlier in the same month is the Tabaski celebration. ‘Tabaski’ is Mali and Senegal’s regional word for ‘Eid al-Adha’ (Festival of the Sacrifice), also called the “Sacrifice Feast”, which is the second of two Muslim holidays celebrated worldwide each year, and considered the holier of the two.
Usually on this occasion in Mali; everything is closed and the festivities can last several days if the date corresponds with the proximity of a weekend. This depends on the lunar calendar. Whilst London’s night life scene and traffic on the way certainly wasn’t brought to closure on the night; the presence of beautiful tunics and other outfits (new) that are all Muslims wear on these festive days when traveling with friends to eat sheep reminded me of my native Niger Republic & Nigeria. The aura was ‘brotherly’ evident from our west African neighbors on this Saturday night.
Music From Ali Farka Touré, Oumou Sangaré, Safi Diabete amongst others was played on the night. Bissau is a juice made with the hibiscus plant. Good Food, Colourful attire and my first tasting of the bissap drink was quite remarkable. This was a joint event organised by 2 Malian Associations in the UK: Benkan association, mainly based in Birmingham and beyond and Benso Solidarité , headed by Mr. Wilfired Wiley.
“For those that are not in the know; the Malian community is small but growing. Whilst numbers officially and unofficially assume there are no more than 500 based in the UK; most Malians are based in South and South East London, with the second largest population found in Birmingham and area. The close knit community; though often reserved and conservative are well-organised and celebratory when it comes to national events and this was evident on the night.”
For more information on the Malian Community in the UK; please visit our community article ‘Les Maliens du Royaume-Uni: Malian Community in London (2016)‘ and visit ‘Maliba Benkan‘and Conseil des Maliens du Royaume-Uni page.
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