AN OVERVIEW OF THE SENOUFO – CULTURAL CENTRE IN SIKASSO

The Centre

The Senoufo Cultural Centre is a research centre for safeguarding and promoting the values of local cultures in general and Senoufo culture in particular (CRSPCS). It is located in Sikasso, in the South of Mali in West Africa, which is the most populous region in Mali with 3,241,785 inhabitants, i.e. 18.3% of the Malian population. The Senoufo Cultural Centre is the brainchild of the late Emilio Escudero, a Spanish priest of the Society of the Missionaries of Africa, commonly known as the “White Fathers”.

The Centre was inaugurated in November 2005 and managed by the founder until his death on 2 November 2012. It is registered under Malian law as an association called ‘Wu Nire’ (Our Roots in the Senoufo language). It is managed by a director, who is automatically the Executive Secretary of the Wu Nire Association. The appointment of the director and the taking of major decisions are the responsibility of three bodies: the Wu Nire Association, represented by its president; the Society of the Missionaries of Africa, represented by their provincial n West Africa (PAO) and the diocese of Sikasso represented by its bishop.

Mission and objectives

The mission of the Senoufo Cultural Centre is centred on the policy of researching and promoting socio-cultural heritage, particularly those elements whose existence is threatened. This mission has three key objectives:

– To help safeguard and promote Senoufo culture;

– To help the Senufo world become more open to other socio-cultural perspectives that can contribute to its development;

– To work towards encounters and dialogue with/among different religious, cultural and generational expressions.

Infrastructure

The Centre has three official facilities, two of which are being put to good use. Several buildings and walls surrounding it are decorated with motifs and symbols of local cultures. Its green features life-size statues representing different elements and characters from local culture. There is also a conference room and a modest reception and accommodation area for friends and cultural enthusiasts who wish to visit, study or research.

Activities

The Centre serves the entire population without distinction. Its main activities are research, hosting, socio-cultural events and publishing. Through its research work, the Centre has a museum collection, manuscripts and audiovisual recordings on themes relating to the life of the Senoufo people, from birth through initiation and marriage to funeral rites.

The Centre welcomes daily visitors from various backgrounds: pupils and students, teachers and researchers, newly-weds, Malians and non-Malians. The Centre also welcomes interns from multiple academic disciplines seeking to learn more about socio-cultural activities: linguistics, anthropology, ethnology, history, geography, tourism and hotel management. Its library and various publications are an additional resource for trainees and researchers. Finally, the Centre organises and participates in different national and international workshops.

Tel: (+223) 21 62 18 16 E-mail: centresenoufosikasso@gmail.com Website: www.senoufo.net