7th edition of the Festival of African Instrumental Musicians : The top given next Saturday

The Festival of African Instrumental Musicians (MIA) starts on Saturday 26 November 2022 in Cotonou with big surprises. The Organizing Committee revealed the objectives during a press conference.

The MIA Festival takes up residence in Cotonou from Saturday 26 November 2022. According to Sessi Tonoukouin, coordinator of this cultural event, the initiative aims to be a unique platform of expression and distinction for instrumental musicians from the African continent. “It positions itself as a tool for promoting the Benin destination and promoting cultural and tourist development at the level of Beninese municipalities. It remains a godsend for introducing festival-goers to the tourist attractions of Benin”, he confided. This is why he will say that “from Saturday 26 November 2022, launch day, every evening until 3 December 2022, there will only be live concerts. There is no assisted programming or playbacks or semi-playbacks at the MIA festival”.

He took the opportunity to recall that the leitmotif of the organizers is “to get young people to do pure and hard production from their brains instead of going for the ease of creation with the machine”. The seventh edition is open to orchestras from Africa and those from the Diaspora through a call for applications in four categories namely : best percussionist, best bassist, best composition 100% live, best pianist.

“The winners of each category, designated by an international jury will be distinguished by the MIA Trophies with a financial envelope of 1000 dollars US. They will benefit from a regional promotional tour with the production of an album of their unreleased song”, said the festival coordinator.

To finish, Sessi Tonoukouin stressed that a tribute will be paid to two icons of African music including Manou Gallo from Ivory Coast and Wally Badarou from Benin. Artists will be invited to entertain the public during all the evenings.

Veronique GBEWOLO (Stag)