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SENEGAL: “Sweet Beauty”‘case, a defiled democracy, By SenePlus’s columnist Boubacar Boris Diop

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The paradox of the current events is that while they are serious, they look like a grotesque farce. The feeling that Macky Sall is setting no limits is worrisome. Reacting hot is rarely a good idea. One can understand that, in the heat of the action, politicians are forced to do so almost all the time: in a way, the slightest doubt can be fatal to them. But today, with the “Sweet Beauty” affair, the republican ethic is so ridiculed that the urgency of sounding the alarm is also imposed, and urgently, to all. By Boubacar Boris Diop

The paradox of the current events is that while they are serious, they look like a grotesque farce. Thus, the most watched man in Senegal, so wary that he never registers a suitcase in the hold during his plane trips, would have chosen a public place to rape, weapons in hand, a young masseuse of 21 years. She claims to have been sexually abused on several occasions in this place where surveillance cameras are installed, we are told. But above all, not once has the accuser of the leader of Pastef been heard calling for help or struggling to put an end to his “ordeal”. After all, the incriminating facts are supposed to have taken place in a house that does not look very big and where live a dozen people, including the family of the owner of the Sweet Beauty.  

Fortunately for Sonko, the apprentice-sorcerers with a slightly disturbed mind did not foresee that the latter would not enter their game. His speech, with remarkable clarity, showed that cynical people lurking in the shadows exploited the inexperience – not to mention the psychological fragility of Adja Raby Sarr – and his financial distress, to destroy a man more perceived as a mortal enemy than as a mere political adversary.

The height of amateurism was to imagine that, in our country as it stands, such a case could remain strictly private. It only took a few hours for it to become so political that it relegated all the other subjects of national life, including a pandemic each day that is a little more lethal. The polarization, in a context of deaf popular discontent, is obviously at the expense of the Macky Sall regime. We don’t see with such a bad start what miracle his henchmen could convince anyone of Sonko’s guilt. In any case, whatever their alleged evidence, it will be rejected with contempt by the court of opinion, the only one that works in a democratic country. Nor is it necessary to be a Sonko supporter to guess that the leader of Pastef will emerge politely strengthened from this event. The support that converges on him from all sides will not contribute much to legitimize him as a major political figure. Until now its political importance was mainly due to the impetus of a youth which had made it the depository of its hopes. Here it is, perhaps earlier than expected, taking the thickness of an essential actor of the public scene.  

But in these times of high social tension, what is at stake goes far beyond the political destiny of such or such individuality. This is the dignity of Senegalese democracy, whose values are so joyfully trampled upon. The truth is that those who should have protected it are simply soiling it. No obscenity or oddity is lacking in the appeal: it is a question of a woman raped, very real but become a ghost immediately her complaint lodged; of the sperm of an honest father of family – let us forget for a moment the politician – conveyed nightly, apparentlyhe went to a laboratory; to a massage parlour owner who was the victim of moral torture and attempted corruption to make him change his testimony; to a Public Prosecutor, Bassirou Guèye, of a relentless docility to political authority; the perfectly illegal summoning of Deputy Ousmane Sonko to the “Research Section”, that is to say in contempt of his parliamentary immunity; and, equally illegally, the encirclement of his home by tanks of combat.

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As if all this were not enough, the National Assembly is convened this Thursday, February 11, 2021 to deliver it to justice that, as sad as it is terrible, the litigants no longer take seriously. 

The total control of the Executive over the Judiciary and the Legislative shows that in this country, all the powers are concentrated in the hands of one man, the President of the Republic. These institutions are supposed to constitute a triangle, but this one is of a very particular kind in that it has only one side.

Senegal is not, however, the awful dictatorship that some complain to portray, and in any case, this pervasive presidentialism is not new. However, it has never been so dangerous and caricatural. The feeling that President Macky Sall is not setting any limits is quite worrisome. By acting in such a cavalier manner, he shows how little attention he pays not only to the common Senegalese but also to his allies.

This last point deserves a moment’s attention.

Some of Macky Sall’s companions are known and respected for having fought their lives for the progress and sovereignty of Senegal. Whether they decided at some point to support Macky Sall doesn’t really matter: the real political life is made up of these back and forth and cross-breeds, it’s only the delicious chaos of political politics in the Tropics. Nothing too bad about it. What remains more difficult to accept is that such far-sighted intellectuals of great strength of character give today – on the outside at least – the impression of being literally paralyzed in front of the Head of State. In a normal situation, it should be able to say from time to time that there is a red line that some of its allies, regardless of their electoral weight, would not allow it to cross. The Ubuesque situation we have been living in for a few days is typical of a country where no one dares to whisper the slightest reservation in the boss’s ear.

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And it’s not that nobody wants to. Indeed, it may well be that even in his party, executives and activists, regardless of their hostility to Ousmane Sonko – one can perfectly understand it – are embarrassed to see their leader shoot themselves so often in the foot.

To explain his erratic behavior, several precedents are quoted these days, from Karim Wade to Aminata Touré, passing by Khalifa Sall, all suspected of eyeing the presidential chair, a serious crime if it is. Someone should have told the President that the jug is going to the water and in the end it is going to break. The clumsy attempt to eliminate Sonko, doomed to failure, risks reminding him bitterly. The leader of Pastef could take advantage of the feeling increasingly shared that too much is too much.

It is possible that the strategists of the power have wanted, by this provocation, to test the capacities of resistance of Pastef, to ensure that, as the propaganda of the regime repeats it enviously, that it is only “the party of social networks”. The result must have been disappointing: in a very short time, Senegal found itself in an almost insurrectionary situation not only in certain Dakar neighbourhoods but also in cities such as Louga, Bignona, Mbour and Ziguinchor, this list is very likely to grow if we do not put an end to this trousers as quickly as possible. Last but not least, the beginning of internationalization that we are witnessing makes political sense in view of the love coast of Pastef in the diaspora.

In short, this inconclusive experiment should bring Macky Sall to his senses. Above all, it gives him an unpleasant foretaste of the serious obstacles he will have to overcome to impose a third candidacy. It will simply be mission impossible, even if the examples of Ouattara and Condé could incite him to persist.

The only thing Macky Sall should be doing is resigning himself to the idea that you can’t burn a country to the ground on the pretext of wanting to continue to lead it. Between April 1960 and 2021, tens of millions of sons from Senegal lived there and still live there. Among them, only four had the honour of being its head of state. Millions of others are living very well the fact that they have never had to preside over any country and many of them are no less capable than Macky Sall. On the contrary…

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bdiop@seneplus.com

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A LA UNE

SENEGAL – Aïssata Seck, the one who leads the fight for the former Senegalese soldiers

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AISSATA SECK, Conseillère Régionale Ile-de-France

A major figure in the fight for the recognition of former African soldiers enlisted in the French army, Aïssata Seck held the position of deputy mayor in charge of memorial policies and the fight against racism and discrimination from 2016 to 2020 in Bondy. Engaged in politics, she tirelessly pursues her work of justice and truth for the recognition of the rights of Senegalese tirailleurs through its association for the memory and history of Senegalese tirailleurs. She is currently the Director of the Foundation for the Memory of Slavery and Regional Councillor Ile-de-France. 
Between personal history and intimate combat
His grandfather was one of the Africans who gave their breasts for the liberation of France before the rise of Nazi Germany. After a generation – that of her father – she takes up, in a way, the family torch: to make sure that the leading role played by the Senegalese Tirailleurs in the Great War is recognized. Born on 20 February 1980 in Meulan, Aïssata Seck is French and of Senegalese origin. His grandfather, Samba Yero N’Dom, a Senegalese tirailleur, never obtained French nationality. Years later, as if it were predestined, she decided to speak out loud for those veterans forgotten by the French Republic.

A petition that changes history
For more than ten years, Aïssata has been leading this fight: recognition of the rights of the old African Tirailleurs. In 2016, she launched a petition to ask for the naturalization of the Senegalese Tirailleurs, who lost their French nationality after the independence of Africa. This, she sees as ingratitude on the part of France. The petition immediately received over 60,000 signatures. Pushed by this wave of exceptional mobilization, France decides in April 2017 on a historic gesture by President François Hollande to grant French nationality to twenty-eight former Tirailleurs. A drop in the bucket. But a victory nonetheless.

So that France does not forget them
The year 2024 marks the 80th anniversary of the Liberation of France. And, so that this is not forgotten, Aïssata Seck “wishes to contribute to the success of the commemorations by involving a part of the French youth and a part of the Senegalese youth”. Far from stopping at this victory, Aïssata Seck also militates in many associations for a better visibility of colonial soldiers in the public space. President of the Association for the Memory and History of Senegalese Tirailleurs, in December 2023, she was appointed director of the Foundation for the Memory of Slavery. She works to ensure that the streets, schools and monuments pay tribute to these men who came from Africa, often at the cost of their lives, to defend a country that recognizes them too rarely. Indeed, Aïssata Seck refuses that the memory of these fighters is forgotten. And for this, it deserves all our consideration.

 

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SENEGAL – The Pastef honors Neega Mass for its activism

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The evening of October 20, 2024, marking the political return of Pastef in Paris, was also the occasion for a vibrant tribute. Massamba Thiam, known as Neega Mass, was awarded a diploma in recognition of his artistic dedication to the Senegalese people. With this symbolic gesture, the patriots of Pastef wanted to salute the luminous influence of this artist, both in Africa and in the diaspora, as a beacon of awakened consciousness.

A well-deserved tribute
In front of a prestigious assembly, gathering the great figures of Senegalese politics, Neega Mass appeared deeply moved. This Franco-Senegalese, from the generous lands of Casamance, received this distinction with a touching humility. She recognizes her commitment to Pan-Africanism and patriotism, two ideals that run through her work as a red thread. More than a simple reward, it reaffirms the relevance of its fight, an encouragement to continue on its path towards a united Africa. Poet and activist rapper, Neega Mass expresses in his deeply committed texts a pan-African dream anchored in modernity. Spiritual heir to thinkers such as Cheikh Anta Diop, he has been a champion of awakening African and Afro-descendant consciousness since his first albums Aduna (2015) and L’Œil Invisible (2016). His words, far from being mere notes on a score, are vibrant calls to memory and responsibility, incitements to an inner revolution for African governments and peoples.

Neega Mass

The art of sublimating the verb
The magic of Neega Mass is its ability to combine entertainment and thought. His texts, rich in meaning and emotions, are interspersed with subtle puns, deep allegories and references to great African authors such as Senghor, Aimé Césaire, and Cheikh Anta Diop. The artist does not hesitate to rub shoulders with the founding myths of Africa, diving into the meanders of Egyptian, Nubian and Sudanese history. But beyond these historical anchors, it addresses contemporary geopolitical issues with a rare audacity, calling for unity of the black peoples of Africa and the Caribbean. In this interlacing of tradition and modernity, he urges his listeners to rediscover the building soul of the African genius.

An heir of the griots
Coming from the Griot caste, Neega Mass inherited an ancestral gift: that of making words speak without apparent effort. It is a spontaneous, almost mystical word that comes to him with disconcerting accuracy. In his compositions, he was able to mix traditional instruments such as the xalam, secular lute of West Africa, and the tama, this drum of royal courts, to infuse his creations a cultural depth rarely reached. This alliance of ancestral sounds and powerful political discourse gives his music a unique dimension, far beyond the borders of rap. Each piece becomes an ode to African identity, a cry of love addressed to the continent.

Neega Mass

  

A model of inspiration
The recognition of Pastef France is much more than a symbolic reward; it reflects the impact of Neega Mass, both artistic and political. Through his creations, he was able to build bridges between generations, cultures and sensibilities, while remaining faithful to his pan-Africanist vision. As a committed artist, he embodies the rebirth of conscious music at the frontier of entertainment and social engagement. Neega Mass, in his unwavering quest, continues to raise the colours of Africa and its diaspora, dreaming, like the giants before him, of a union of the states of Africa.

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SENEGAL – Coumbis Cissokho Sorra, the return of a committed voice

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Armed with her guitar – which proved to be less heavy than a piano during her training – Coumbis Cissokho Sorra unleashes a flow of emotions on the world’s stages. Currently in Paris, she is navigating between African and Western rhythms, recording a new single financed by the “African Culture Fund” and refining her next album, which will be in the same vein as the previous one: a conscious and committed style of “galsen” rap.
From cherry to rapper
From a family of griots, the young Coumbis Sorra Cissokho has drifted towards rap, like an unforgiving river that rises from its traditional bed. While her musical family heritage predestinated her to animate deaths and births, Combis opts for a rap that skillfully mixes mandingo influences, blues and mbalax, to which she adds touches of commitment. Coumbis enters the world of music through hip-hop after spending four years at the prestigious AMV music school located at the Maison de la culture in Dakar. Noticed from the moment she entered this school by coaches like Rodolphe Coly, Edou and Boumy. Leaving this school, with a rather heavy artist background, Coumbis Sorra abandons hip-hop to dedicate himself to Word Music. Talented guitarist, she works a lot on her own compositions both on the vocals and on the instrumental part

‘Bandirabe’’, a tribute to his
In 2018, her album “Bandirabé” confirmed her talent and versatility. Behind his committed texts, we find this captivating melody drawn from his Mandingo roots. His texts thus have a singular sonority that today constitutes his musical identity. Evolving in rap, a genre dominated mostly by men, this young Casamançaise has forged a name, far beyond Senegal, thanks to the power of its flow. It is always a pleasure to listen to this artist who composes songs in the purest African musical tradition, with cascades of melancholy kora arpeggios and punchy phrases in wolof. Coumbis Cissokho Sorra has succeeded in elevating Galsen rap, incorporating a particular style: conscious rap.

Coumbiss Sorra



A conscious rap
Since its debut in 2006, Coumbis Sorra has been known for its grooves and strong positions. His single “Mister President” is a real uppercut addressed to African leaders, denouncing bad governance. Since then, it has continued to pursue this social and political commitment. In 2012, she returns with “Kadinding Faye”, a moving tribute to street children, confirming her role as an engaged artist. Most of its titles denounce the social realities of Senegal and Africa as well as political concerns. With her single Farafina Mousso, she puts herself at the service of the women of the world.

International recognition
Coumbis made a name for itself internationally at the 3rd edition of the Festival Mondial des Arts Nègres (FESMAN) in 2012, with its striking style combining tradition and modernity. Its participation in prestigious festivals such as the Saint-Louis International Jazz Festival, the Ndakaru Festival or FIMA (International Fashion Festival in Africa) has been praised by the press. Today, we can say, she is without a shadow of a doubt one of the ambassadors of Senegalese culture, especially from Casamance, her native land. This new album, which she shapes far from her roots, is eagerly awaited.

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