Du FESMAN aux JOJ : le récit d’une nation à l’ambition universelle (Par Pape Mahawa Diouf)
JOJ: Why Senegal?
Of the 54 National Olympic Committees on the continent, Senegal was chosen to host the first Youth Olympic Games in Africa. The leadership of Mamadou Diagna Ndiaye undoubtedly played a significant role in this decision.
But why choose Senegal? For fifteen days, 217 delegations and 2,700 young athletes aged 14 to 17 will gather in Dakar, Saly, and Diamniadio to celebrate sport and the Olympic spirit. The Organizing Committee for the Youth Olympic Games (COJOJ) deserves praise for its efficiency and the exemplary feat it is accomplishing.
This success, however, would not have been possible without the colossal work of President Macky Sall: communication routes, a modern, intelligent, and multimodal mass transit system, and state-of-the-art sports infrastructure. It is these facilities that are hosting a world-class event.
The city of Dakar, under the leadership of Khalifa Ababacar Sall and then Soham El Wardini, put forward a strong candidacy.
Finally, without the republican leadership of President Bassirou Diomaye Faye, the Games would have been compromised by delays, evasions and childish political maneuvering.
That is why we are delighted to see a Senegal that brings together its best sons and daughters to serve its unique destiny as a leading country on the African continent.
The impact of Senegalese soft power
Through these Games, it is clear that Senegal's genius does not yet reside in "oil and gas"; it still relies on the power of its soft power.
Dakar, 1966: Senegal welcomes the world, more specifically the black world. It is the World Festival of Black Arts (FESMAN).
So what was FESMAN? Launched under the impetus of Léopold Sédar Senghor and Alioune Diop, with the magazine Présence africaine, the Festival was a grand cultural event designed to celebrate the culture, arts, literature, cinema and identity of the peoples of Africa and its diaspora — Haiti, United States, Brazil, Caribbean.
André Malraux, the French Minister of Culture, fully grasping the significance of the moment, declared: "Here we are, then, in history. For the first time, a head of state is taking into his mortal hands the spiritual destiny of a continent."
Senghor's grandchildren have taken up the torch. Through these Games, the Senegalese people are reminding everyone who they are and continuing on their path.
Reject the institutional blockage of Senegal
It is therefore up to President Bassirou Diomaye Faye to consolidate this place that the world recognizes for us, this beacon that the continent looks to.
Preserving our democracy from its detractors: the institutional blockage that the reactionary forces in the Assembly are attempting must not succeed.
Because they divide us—even within our own homes—destroy what we hold most dear—peace and national unity—and undermine our institutions: today the National Assembly; before that, the Justice system and the President of the Republic. I remain convinced that we must fight them by all democratic and legal means.
Faced with attempts to destroy Senegal's reputation, all true patriots must stand together and preserve this precious legacy of the founding fathers, which we have just celebrated once again.
If President Bassirou Diomaye Faye had only one mission left, it would be: to restore confidence, optimism and pride in being what we are: Senegalese.
Pape Mahawa Diouf,
Kiiraay_ LPR
Commentaires (9)
Vous avez su, avec beaucoup de hauteur et de justesse, rappeler que les grandes réussites de notre nation doivent transcender les clivages politiques et servir l’intérêt supérieur du Sénégal 🇸🇳.
Une belle réflexion sur notre histoire, notre héritage, notre rayonnement international et surtout sur la nécessité de préserver l’unité nationale 🤝🙏🏽🇸🇳☝🏽🚨.
Le Sénégal 🇸🇳 a besoin de rassembleurs, de visionnaires et de femmes et d’hommes capables de placer l’intérêt général au-dessus des considérations partisanes 👷♂️👷🏽👷🏻♀️🧑🏽⚕️👩🏼🎓
Bravo pour cette belle contribution ✍️✋👏🏽🤝
Participer à la Discussion
Règles de la communauté
💡 Astuce : Utilisez des emojis depuis votre téléphone ou le module emoji ci-dessous. Cliquez sur GIF pour ajouter un GIF animé. Collez un lien X/Twitter, TikTok ou Instagram pour l'afficher automatiquement.
Se connecter
Commentez avec votre profil, votre photo, et soyez averti des réponses.