Bring Dance and Music to Rural Schools in Mali!

Dear Kono Gnaga Friends and Family,

As we enter the final months of 2025, we look forward to launching the new school year and continuing our programs across partner schools in Bamako and Segou.

This year, we proudly celebrated our 7th Annual Kono Gnaga Festival, bringing together nine partner schools for three months of workshops and a joyful community performance that showcased students’ creativity, confidence, and pride in Mali’s cultural heritage. Our expansion to Segou through collaboration with the Mieruba Art Center marked an exciting step in sharing these opportunities with even more children and teachers.

Amid these accomplishments, we are deeply saddened by the loss of one of our most cherished artists, Dramane Sonogo, known to all as Bina. A pillar of the Kono Gnaga family, Bina dedicated his life to the cultural arts of Mali—teaching traditional dance, mentoring young artists, and inspiring hundreds of students to embrace their heritage with joy and discipline. His spirit will continue to move through every drumbeat and dance step shared by the children he taught.

As we look ahead, we also face serious funding challenges that may force us to scale back our reach. Yet our mission remains steadfast: to keep Malian youth, especially girls, who make up 80% of our participants, engaged, confident, and connected to their education through culture. Parents continue to share how their children are more motivated to attend school because of our programs, proof that this work changes lives.

We invite you to stand with us.

Join our event in Washington, DC on November 14 (flyer attached) and our GlobalGiving Giving Tuesday campaign on December 2. Your support keeps the heartbeat of Kono Gnaga alive, preserving culture, expanding education, and empowering the next generation of Malian youth.

With gratitude and hope,
Solo Sana and The Kono Gnaga Team