President of Republic at Opening of FISO 7th Edition: “Culture Strongly Contributes to the Economic, Social, and Political Development of States”

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The seventh edition of the International Soninke Festival (FISO) was opened on 22 February at the Nouakchott Olympic Stadium in the presence of His Excellency Mohamed Ould Cheikh ElGhazouani, the President of the Republic, the Prime Minister, and members of the government. Delegations from the wilayas and the diaspora attended the opening of this seventh edition, which takes place from 22 to 26 February in Nouakchott.

In his opening speech, the President of the Republic said how much he appreciates the cultural commitment of its organizers. He added that culture “contributes strongly to the economic, social, and political development of States.”

Here is the full text of the speech:

“I would like to convey to the delegations of brotherly countries and the representatives of the Soninke diaspora how much I highly appreciate their cultural commitment and their patience in organizing this great cultural event. Culture, and it is obvious, strongly contributes to the economic, social, and political development of States. It is through it that the identity of the historical continuity of human societies acquires meaning and value. This is why Mauritania is and will always remain actively supportive of any initiative contributing to the preservation, development, and promotion of cultural diversity.

Thus, we have made the promotion of our cultural diversity a major focus of our social, political, and cultural governance. This is easily visible in the reform of our education system currently being implemented. An education system that lays the foundations of a republican school and includes the teaching of our national languages in the school curriculum to strengthen cultural exchanges between the different components of our social fabric.

Convinced that this festival will contribute significantly to the promotion of Soninke culture, and more generally, to the entrenchment of cultural diversity, I wish you every success and declare its seventh edition open.

Thank you”

Before delivering this opening speech, the President of the Republic attended, in a crowede Olympic stadium, the parade of delegations from the different wilayas of the country and the Soninke of the diaspora (Mali, Senegal, Gambia, Guinea Bissau, Angola, France…). A parade punctuated by tam-tam, songs of women adorned with sparkling indigo boubous from the hands of the famous Soninke dyers.

Before the President of the Republic’s speech, Mr. Ali Boubou Gandega, the President of the Wagadou Sane Association, welcomed the various delegations. He stressed the importance of the republican school project which reintroduces the teaching of national languages at school through the new law reforming the education system.

Mr. Gandega also cited the recent creation of the institute for the promotion and teaching of national languages, which denotes a real political will in the direction of promoting diversity.