Bring Dance and Music to Rural Schools in Mali!

Dear Kono Gnaga Friends and Family,

We are thrilled to announce a major milestone for Kono Gnaga: this year, we expanded our program into the rural region of Ségou! Partnering with the Mieruba Art Center and two local schools, we brought arts education to new communities and engaged local artists to work directly with students. This exciting expansion culminated in a vibrant community festival in Ségou—the first of its kind for the area.

In addition to our growth in Ségou, we also celebrated the 7th Annual Kono Gnaga Festival in Bamako, featuring nine partner schools. Students engaged in three months of workshops leading up to a joyful community celebration in January, highlighting their creativity and learning.

A powerful new initiative this year allowed students to choose the themes of their performances. Through dance and music, they addressed pressing social issues such as girls’ education, sanitation, clean water, and juvenile delinquency. By using cultural heritage as a storytelling tool, students reached hundreds of community members with their messages and creativity.

To better understand our impact, we welcomed a monitoring and evaluation specialist who conducted focus groups with students, parents, and community members. The results were inspiring: parents noted their children were more motivated to attend school, and many girls reported increased confidence. One student shared,  “I’ve become a better student. Before, I didn’t ask questions when I didn’t understand. Now, I ask my teacher without feeling ashamed.”

With girls making up 80% of our participants, we are proud to be helping break down barriers to education and empower the next generation.

Thank you for being a vital part of the Kono Gnaga family. Your support makes all of this possible and is even more important during these uncertain times. 

Peace and blessings,
The Kono Gnaga Team