In the Sahel, art and cultural entrepreneurship are tools of resilience and social transformation
The Sahel, an African region stretching from the Atlantic Ocean on the West Coast to the Red Sea on the East Coast, is often reduced to an area of armed conflicts and security crises by the international media.
However, the region also has a vast and varied culture that remains largely unknown outside its borders. Through the documentary “The Other Sahel — The Resilience of Artists in Mali, Niger, and Burkina Faso” by Joël Hevi, a Togolese journalist and cultural entrepreneur active in the creative industry, a community of artists, creators, and cultural entrepreneurs aims to provide a more diverse and nuanced picture of this region.
In this documentary, as part of the African Union Media Fellowship, Joël Hevi tells the story of various artists who rely on resilience and creativity to face the challenges in three Sahelian countries: Mali, Niger, and Burkina Faso. He explained the reasons behind his project in a face-to-face interview with Global Voices.
Jean Sovon (JS): How did you come up with the idea of promoting culture in the Sahel?
Joël Hevi (JH): In mainstream narratives, the Sahel is all too often labelled a region of crises, conflicts, and tragedies. This unnuanced portrayal obscures the wealth of human stories that unfold there every day. The artists and creators I interviewed are master builders and visionaries who turn limitations into opportunities. Telling their stories shows the other side to this region, where resilience, creativity, and a sense of community drive sustainable change.
My objective for “The Other Sahel” was to make these actors, who are too often marginalized, heard and show that behind the challenges lie initiatives reimagining culture and society. By sharing these stories, the documentary invites viewers to break down stereotypes and see the Sahel as a dynamic and creative region, where citizens are the authors of their own stories.
JS: How does art become a means of communication for Sahelian artists?
JH: These creators from Mali, Burkina Faso, and Niger use art as a universal language that transcends borders, unites communities, and creates spaces of expression and dialogue.
Moreover, art is also a practical tool for social transformation. Cultural initiatives stimulate local economies, strengthen community solidarity, and enable young people and women to find spaces to share their opinions and creativity. For example, through the initiatives I saw in Espace Boul Yam (Knowledge Development Space), a cultural center in Ouagadougou, the political capital of Burkina Faso, art has become a powerful tool for sharing the aspirations and realities of young people and local populations alike. An example is the Récréâtrales festival, a pan-African space for theatrical writing, creation, research, and distribution, held in Ouagadougou from October 24 to November 2.
This festival allowed these artists to assert their resilience against crises.
JS: How does this documentary transcend stereotypes found in international media?
JH: Mainstream narratives often only show the Sahel through the prism of violence and instability. “The Other Sahel” offers an opposite viewpoint, showcasing its cultural vitality and citizen creativity. We see innovative artists and cultural entrepreneurs planning collective projects and preserving their heritage despite the crises. Rather than the typical image of fragility, this portrayal shows that the Sahel is a space for living, ingenuity, and opportunity.
The documentary also challenges the notion that culture cannot exist amid economic and security crises. It shows that art and cultural entrepreneurship are tools of resilience, reappropriation, and social transformation. By making local actors heard, the documentary balances the international narrative and invites the audience to see the Sahel as a region rich in talent, initiatives, and inspiring human stories.
In this documentary (3:56), Zabda, a Burkinabé artist and President of Espace Boul Yam in Ouagadougou, discusses two of this space’s initiatives: “artistic practices” and “cultural discoveries.”
Another initiative is that of photographer Zerbo Siaka, known as Fasky. This initiative showcases his photo exhibition project in which he draws attention to social and human rights issues, especially those affecting women.
JS: What obstacles did you have to overcome in making this documentary?
JH: I wanted to tell the story of another Sahel, one of its creators. However, the on-the-ground reality soon held up my plans. I realized that documenting their resilience primarily entailed navigating insecurity. The once possible road trips between towns had become too dangerous.
The authorities’ level of vigilance also created subtle censorship. I came up against refusals and unwillingness from two artists with atypical backgrounds. Earning people’s trust was essential in each interview so that they would open up without fear. In some cases, we had to rely on journalist colleagues to reach these authentic voices.
These challenges have paradoxically strengthened the documentary’s message. They prove that creativity and resilience remain even in the most challenging conditions.
JS: What is the main message that your audience should take away?
JH: The core message is that resilience and creativity are deeply rooted in Sahelian societies. Today, every artistic project, every cultural initiative, is a direct response to the daily challenges and an act of social transformation. The audience should understand that the Sahel, aside from its crises, is what its citizens make of it with their courage, imagination, and solidarity.
I also want the public to understand the importance of promoting local actors’ initiatives and making them heard. Behind these challenges lie stories of hope and creativity worth telling. The documentary encourages us to look at the Sahel from a different angle, celebrate its voices, and understand that culture is a driving force for change, capable of transforming lives and communities.
Jean Sovon is the regional editor of Global Voices for French-speaking sub-Saharan Africa. He is a journalist specialising in human rights, a field to which he often contributes his expertise through his research, analysis and articles. A sociologist by training, he is also passionate about electoral issues, good governance, conflict prevention, peace and security, and international relations. Before joining Global Voices, Jean collaborated with several online media outlets in Togo and the West African sub-region.
The French original of this article first appeared on Global Voices en Français. This English translation by Laura Dunne first appeared on Global Voices (English).
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