Mali, Guinea: Ali Farka Toure lives on!

Posted by sociolingo on May 8, 2008

I know a lot of you guys already know this, but I am finding out what a rich source of cultural material YouTube is! Whilst trying to get together a post on a Jazz festival in Guinea in honour of the Malian guitarist Ali Farka Toure, who sadly died a couple of years ago, I found a lot of YouTube clips. Born in the village of Nafunke near Timbuktu he never forgot his northern Mali roots, and in fact was ignored for some time in Mali because he was regarded as a ‘northerner’. In 2004 he was elected mayor of Niafunke. He is considered the pioneer of ‘Mali Blues‘ and his jazz style is appreciated all over the world. He won 2 Grammy awards for Talking Timbuktu and again in 2006, for his album in collaboration with another famous Malian musician, Toumani Diabate, In the Heart of the Moon (both links have clips you can play).

I did a little searching. I found this interesting video of the great man, posted by pusanguy, not just playing but giving his thoughts about ‘African Americans’. I hope you find it encouraging!

Well, back to the Jazz festival. According to APA News it is being held in Guinea at the Franco-Guinean Centre. It started on 7th will end on 11th May. The Guineans are honouring Farka Toure

because had given up attending a cultural festival in Nice, France, where he was to earn €80,000, to take part in the 2nd edition of the Jazz Festival

The following link can only be listened to through YouTube, I can’t embed it. But is is such a seminal recording of Farka Toure I really wanted to bring it to your attention. It was recorded at the Segou festival in 2005. The other instrument being played is the Ngoni or xalam and is played by Bassekou Kouyate. Enjoy!

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=LSWuzp_0hn4&feature=related

Guinea IMF: Poverty Reduction and Growth Facility report 2008

Source: IMF

Statement by an IMF Mission to the Republic of Guinea

Press Release No. 08/68
April 2, 2008

An International Monetary Fund (IMF) mission, led by Mr. Le Dem, visited the Republic of Guinea during March 20-April 2, 2008 to conduct discussions on the first review under the Poverty Reduction and Growth Facility (PRGF) arrangement, approved by the IMF Executive Board in December 2007. The mission met with Prime Minister Lansana Kouyaté, President of the National Assembly, Mr. Somparé, Minister of Finance, Economic Affairs and Planning Dr. Doré, Minister of Economic and Financial Control and Transparency Mr. Diallo, Minister of Mines and Geology Mr. Kanté, Minister of Commerce, Tourism and Industry Mr. Traoré, Governor of the Central Bank Mr. Bangoura, senior officials of the government and the central bank, and representatives of the business community, labor unions, civil society and external donors.

The mission issued the following statement in Conakry today:

“Following real GDP growth of about 1.8 percent in 2007, economic activity is expected to rebound substantially to around 4 ½ percent in 2008, underpinned by several large foreign-financed investment projects underway in the mining sector. Prudent fiscal and monetary policies implemented since the second quarter of 2007 have contributed to a rapid decline in inflation. The approval by the Paris Club creditors of a new debt restructuring agreement with Guinea in January 2008 provides for a generous treatment of external arrears and debt service over the next three years, but the country’s external position remains fragile.

“Progress has been made in meeting the PRGF-supported program targets and in implementing structural reforms designed to bolster public finance management and to improve the financial operations and internal controls of the central bank. The mission urged the authorities to strengthen coordination between the Ministry of Finance and the Central Bank to improve program compliance, notably on avoiding external arrears and external financing on nonconcessional terms while building up international reserves.

“In discussing the fiscal position for 2008, the mission advised the authorities to take measures to boost the productivity of revenue collection agencies and expand the tax base. In this regard, the recent decision to re-establish pre-shipment inspection of imports is welcome.

“Higher-than-expected international energy and commodity prices present a challenge for macroeconomic management. The mission considers that the government’s effort to align the retail prices of petroleum products with international prices is essential to maintain equilibrium in the public finances. In order to reduce the impact of such external shocks on the poor, the mission recommended that policy measures should be well focused and targeted to vulnerable groups, with due regard to fiscal sustainability.

“Discussions are expected to continue during the IMF/World Bank Spring meetings in Washington with a view to making further progress toward the completion of the review.

“The mission would like to thank the authorities for their hospitality and the fruitful discussions.”

IMF EXTERNAL RELATIONS DEPARTMENT

Public Affairs			Media Relations
Phone:	202-623-7300		Phone:	202-623-7100
Fax:	202-623-6278		Fax:	202-623-6772

Guinea commemorates 24th coup anniversary amid economic crisis

Source: APA

Guinea commemorates 24th coup anniversary amid economic crisis

APA - Conakry (Guinea) Guineans commemorated on Thursday the anniversary of the 3 April 1984 coup d’etat amid acute crisis, few days after the fuel price increase which made the cost of living even more expensive.

A wreath laying ceremony, headed by Prime Minister Lansana Kouyate, was held at the place of the Martyrs in the morning in Kaloum commune, in the centre of the Guinean capital.

Mr. Kouyate and his retinue then went to the Almamy Samory Toure camp, secondary residence of President Lansana Conte, to compliment him on the occasion.

President Conte was the principal architect that dismissed close collaborators of the Sekou Toure regime, following the death of the latter on 26 March 1984 in a Cleveland hospital, United States.

The government launched the online website of the Guinea Radio and Television (RTG) as part of activities of the celebrations.

A Guinean company specialized in NICTs (Mouna Groups Technologies), in partnership with the Dutch Radio Television, carried out the operation.

Five private radio promoters also received their licenses during this ceremony at the RTG buildings in Koloma, Conakry suburbs.

There were four community radios i.e. Bronkedou FM, Horizon FM, Djoliba FM, Kofi FM and a commercial radio called Gangan FM.

The streets of Conakry were in no mood for celebrations due to the economic situation. The people instead pondered the fate during this public holiday, due to the increasingly expensive cost of living.

MDB/aft/ad/daj/APA 2008-04-03

Girls’ Education: The Role of Educational Policies in Mauritania and Guinea

Source: World Bank Africa Region Findings 171 November 2000

Girls’ Education: The Role of Educational Policies in
Mauritania and Guinea

Introduction

This article analyzes the role of educational policies as a success factor for girls’ education and focuses in two countries, Mauritania and Guinea, that have successfully addressed this issue. It also briefly mentions the current situation in Burkina Faso and Mali. The key objective of this research effort was to understand and explain the practices that help girl students to succeed in school, and the underlying circumstances. The research revealed that the problems and successes of girls’ schooling are part of a whole dynamic, in which sociocultural, school and institutional factors overlap and interact.

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