Is Mbour being neglected? Artists' outcry against Dakar's cultural "dictatorship"!

In Mbour, cultural figures are speaking out to denounce the lack of support for local artistic initiatives. Between a lack of infrastructure, funding difficulties, and territorial inequalities, producers and artists are calling for more concrete involvement from the authorities.

Étienne Guèye, general manager of the 108 Studios label, makes no secret of his bitterness. "Since 2021, we've produced eight albums with our own resources," he explains. A commitment driven solely by passion, despite an environment he considers unfavorable.

Non-existent infrastructure and exorbitant costs

Beyond funding, it is above all the glaring lack of infrastructure that hinders the city's cultural development. "Subsidies exist, but in Mbour, we don't see a penny of them. There are no performance venues worthy of the name. We are forced to rely on private spaces, often exorbitantly expensive," he emphasizes, citing in particular a local restaurant whose rental costs can reach 300,000 FCFA.

For him, the solution lies in better management and making cultural infrastructure available to truly committed stakeholders: "These structures must be entrusted to passionate individuals to revitalize the sector."

The heartfelt cry of artists in the face of centralization

The same sentiment is echoed by artists. Gospel singer Laure Adama Preira calls for increased support for young talent. "Supporting youth is supporting the future of a country," she states, emphasizing the central role of young people in cultural and economic development.

She also regrets the excessive centralization of cultural activities in Dakar, to the detriment of cities like Mbour. "Culture is not very visible here. Everything is concentrated in Dakar, and this constitutes a real deficiency," she laments, hoping to see this dynamic change.

Faced with these observations, cultural actors in Mbour are making an urgent appeal to the authorities, particularly the Ministry of Culture of Senegal, to create a more favorable environment for artistic creation and the emergence of new talents.