JOJ 2026: The Douta Seck Cultural Center comes alive with the rhythm of "after-work" events

Alongside the sporting competition, the Douta Seck Cultural Center is bringing the capital to life with the rhythm of the "after-work" events at "Café Jokko". From November 1st to 12th, virtuosos of Senegalese music, national ensembles, and young talents from ENAMC will come together every evening from 7 pm to 9 pm to offer an exceptionally rich musical panorama, complemented by high-level training workshops and masterclasses.

To enhance the cultural activities at the Douta Seck Cultural Center, a well-defined musical program has been established throughout the Youth Olympic Games (YOG). These "after-work" events, held daily from 7 p.m. to 9 p.m., feature performances by the Wasso group, former members of the National Orchestra of Senegal, the current National Orchestra lineup, emerging artists, and leading figures of the Senegalese music scene.

Since the start of the Youth Olympic Games, nationally and internationally renowned artists have been performing nightly at the venue, offering spectacular shows. Organized around the "Café Jokko" concept, these festive gatherings also bring together students from the National School of Arts and Cultural Professions (ENAMC).

Artists like Bakhaw Assiko, El Jazz, and students from music teacher Adolphe Coly's vocal and musical workshop kicked off the festivities on Sunday, November 1st. Since then, the show has been in full swing every evening. On Monday, the audience was treated to an acoustic evening featuring Woz Kaly and Pape Niang. The atmosphere shifted on Tuesday with a jazz session hosted by the multi-talented Adolphe Coly, lead singer of Wasso, and the Doudou Konaré Project.

Wednesday evening was marked by a special tribute, the "Sargal," paid to the iconic communicator Pape Faye. To enhance this event, the Guissé brothers electrified the concert hall. Combining the vocal alchemy and virtuosity of Cheikh Guissé on folk guitar with the talent of Djiby Guissé on lead guitar, the duo delighted an audience comprised of numerous figures from the film industry, including Amélie Mbaye and Rokhaya Niang. In addition to their own repertoire, the two brothers paid a vibrant tribute to the departed figures of Senegalese music, such as the late salsa singer Pape Fall and Souleymane Faye.

The second part of the evening was presented by Demba Guissé, offering a successful immersion in the sounds of the Halpulaar people. Serer rhythms and songs were showcased on Thursday by Cheikh Ciss and Simon Sène. On Friday, the Wasso group and the National Orchestra returned to the stage to revisit a repertoire of national and international hits.

Saturday evening was dedicated to Casamance music, highlighted by a remarkable performance alongside Adolphe Coly, who single-handedly sang all the vocal parts of the famous song "We Are The World." The Mandinka night, eagerly awaited this Sunday, will be enlivened by Fatou Bintou Koné, a singer at the Daniel Sorano National Theatre. These festive evenings will continue until November 12th, bringing the Douta Seck Cultural Center to life with the rhythm of the Youth Olympic Games.

Alongside the stage performances, knowledge transfer is also central to the program. On Monday, November 9th and Tuesday, November 10th, the ENAMC (National School of Music and Dance), the Grand Master of the National Orchestra, violinist and bandmaster Williams Badji, and Professor Adolphe Coly, led a high-level masterclass for students in musical training. This masterclass was particularly well-received by the participants, who expressed their desire to see these practical workshops continue.