Sahel artists forge new cultural identity through “AES Engagé” Project
In a bold cultural initiative reflecting the Sahel’s political and economic transformation, Burkina Faso’s Minister of Communication, Culture, Arts and Tourism, Gilbert Ouédraogo, met this Monday with a delegation of artist-soldiers from the Alliance of Sahel States (AES). The group, representing Burkina Faso, Mali and Niger, is producing a landmark musical project titled “AES Engagé” to strengthen regional unity.
Cultural Soldiers take center Stage
Led by Burkina Faso’s Sergeant Zinsonni “Kezi” Kaleb, the delegation included Mali’s Captain Luc Traoré and Niger’s Sergeant Mahamane Sani Maigochi.
Their collaborative work, currently in audiovisual production after completing audio recording, will film at historic sites across all three nations.
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The project deliberately showcases Sahelian heritage to foster shared identity among AES populations.
Strategic cultural revival
Minister Ouédraogo praised the initiative as “a creative expression of our collective rebirth,” highlighting how art serves as both cultural preservation and social cohesion tool.
The project aligns with the AES governments’ comprehensive sovereignty agenda from educational reforms to regional security cooperation; now expanding into cultural diplomacy.
The Sahel’s renaissance blueprint
This artistic endeavor mirrors the Alliance’s broader transformation:
- Military integration through joint armed operations
- Economic sovereignty via local production chains
- Diplomatic realignment emphasizing pan-African partnerships
As filming progresses from Mali to Niger and Burkina Faso, “AES Engagé” symbolizes the region’s determination to craft its narrative.
The artist-soldiers embody this dual mission securing territory while culturally reuniting a historically interconnected population.
With educational curricula revisions already incorporating such cultural works, the AES states are institutionalizing their vision: a Sahel defining its future through unified security, revitalized traditions and strategic autonomy.
This musical project may well become the soundtrack of that awakening.
Isaac Mokandjo
