Festivals and cultural events Mali

At the beginning of March, the Fesmama, with the support of the Presidency of the Republic, celebrates the magnificent art of puppets and masks, which are essential elements of Malian culture. It's original, colourful and funny… Don't miss it if you are in the region. Hundreds of masks and puppets (coming from all regions of the country, but also from Europe) invade the streets of this city 275 km from Bamako. Artistic troops innovate every year to get their characters moving. The best are rewarded by a price.

The Olympia Nights Festival or festival of Essouk takes place in the small village of Essouk, located 60 km from Kidal, in the Adrar des Ifoghas. The festival is usually held in early January. The atmosphere is impressive: in the light of headlamps, music groups occur in the desert. Big carpets serve as a stage. The stands are granite stones that span the landscape. In the day there are great camel races, but also tents where you can see calligraphie calligraphy and craftsmen. The various tribes are at this festival for moments of important exchanges (Takoubelt). The festival was created to make this region very isolated and also attracts European travellers.

The festival, which was created in 2001, takes place in Essakane, two hours from Timbuktu, in January or February. The programming dates are indicated on the website as well as the entire program. It is added to other major traditional festivals that bring together tribes: Takoubelt in Kidal and Temakannit in Timbuktu. It is a very successful festival and has become one of Mali's most prestigious, because in addition to the songs, traditional Tuareg dances, camel races (attention to freinages in the crowd), it also hosts international music groups. In the programme, concert of tindé under tents, magic concerts during the night as for the festival of Essouk, camel races, tea ceremonies, etc. All tribes are present, and of course women and children, for this great moment of sharing. There are also French musicians, travellers who came especially for the occasion. It is generally open to slowly by dignitaries in the region.

The Tamadacht festival takes place in Andéramboukane (the city bordering the Niger and Mali) each year in January. It was the feast of the Tuareg Ouelleminden that came to take part in these meetings, to traditional dances, to camel races, because Tamadacht signife "contest" in Songhaï. It is a stunning traditional festival that brings together several tribes of Azawagh, including Fulani and Songhai. Many Europeans came to attend. Tribes compete with beauty, elegance and address. This festival was also created to make known a busy region and its extraordinary traditions and also to ensure that the tribes can resolve certain issues: marriages, for example, or problems related to the region. Since the region is far from everything, it is recommended that you use a local travel agency to get there.

In April-May this festival takes place in the village of Koumantou between Bougouni and Sikasso. In the programme: music, crafts and dance. Especially an ancestral dance named Tiéblemké, which is no longer feature by a small group of people at this festival. It is said that this dance is announced half an hour before the arrival of the dancers, and while the first movements begin, the rain starts to fall in the dry season!

Bamako hosts the Festival des Voix, organized by singer Fantani Touré and his association Kolomba-Mali, which supports women's vocational training. The opportunity to discover the most beautiful voices of Mali. This festival gives a wide space to the woman with a crowd of female artists who came to celebrate art and music in Mali. Programming also leaves a place for Malian singers. 


From the first weekend of November, the city of Sikasso became the African capital of balafon. The musicians from Mali, Côte d'Ivoire and Burkina Faso meet every 2 years and are competing for the Lamissa Bengaly prize. It was the Intergovernmental Agency for the Francophonie of the three countries that initiated this event, whose aim was to develop a dialogue on cultural diversity, a factor of peace and social cohesion. The programme also: conferences, visits to cultural sites, crafts exhibitions and, of course, neighborhoods and concerts in the room…

In January, the festival of chantent falls in Gouina on the Senegal River in Kayes region. It leads us to discover deep Africa with its traditional dances, the rhythms of the land such as the Diankouran and Le-Diawoura, the African jazz musicians and conferences on the theme of tourism development, environmental protection and the fight against poverty.

It is an opportunity to come to discover the riches of the culture and traditions of one of the oldest ethnic groups in Africa: music, dance, masks, crafts.

Often towards the end of February, the region of Yorosso and Koury, between Koutiala and the border of Burkina Faso, becomes a land of meetings at the masks festival. Many ethnic groups from across the country come to display their productions, and the traditional dances of masks run on the village squares. Contact the tourist office and local authorities.

In February, the capital of the country lives in the rhythm of the percussion. Since 2004, musicians'troops and ballets from many African countries have been meeting to move Malians and foreigners. We come from Burkina Faso, Guinea, the Republic of Congo, Côte d'Ivoire and Guinea-Bissau to celebrate the percussions. Senegal, Benin and Niger are also often the party.