It takes three days of sailing along the Niger River to reach Timbuktu, the town that is nearest to the venue of the Festival of the Desert. African culture is manifest everywhere; along the Niger River, in Timbuktu, along the two-hour drive across sand dunes from Timbuktu to Essakane, and during the three days of the festival. The Festival in the Desert takes a special place among the other African festivals and Tuareg people, those ‘Blue people’ add color to diversity of the African culture.
The Festival in the Desert is celebrated by the Tuareg people every year. The festival features both traditional Tuareg music and modern Malian lyrics. The next festival is tentatively scheduled from 7th to 10th January 2010. It will be held in Essakane, Timbuktu, at the heart of the Sahara Desert. Therefore the festival is also referred as Essakane Festival.
Tuareg music
One way of getting to Timbuktu in time for the festival is via the Niger River. Once you reach this town, you have to travel over land for the rest of the journey. Once an international flight arrives in Bamako, many visitors prefer to book a hotel so as to remain in this city overnight. The following day marks the beginning of the Festival in the Desert through the Malian heartland. The sight of traditional villages and rural lifestyles of Tuareg people is just amazing.
A journey to Mopti makes travelers experience some three days of thrill. Sailing through the Niger River remains a memorable event as they look forward to the Festival of the Desert in the remotest parts of Malian territory. Fulani camps are a perennial feature all along the way. As you look back to the liveliness of the Niger River, you can’t help but marvel at the birdlife and the wonders of the large, dangerous crocodiles.
This Festival of the Desert remains very unique in many ways. It is modeled on traditional gatherings and great fun moments that the Tuareg people immensely enjoy. Singing and dancing is part of the activities that take place during the day. Poetry and camel races tell every onlooker or participant that this is a community that is not abandoning its culture any time soon. Come night time, and it is time for electric generators to power the lights and on-stage concert beats that thrill both locals and foreigners who have visited the festival.
Tuareg music involves an interesting instrument that looks like a violin as well as drums and cymbals. Tuareg music, that is the sound of the desert, is something refined and hypnotic. Especially the female vocals of the Tuareg music is very impressive and it is more impressive when you listen to Tuareg music at night time in Sahara Desert. The Festival in the Desert becomes more entertaining with the participation of blues artists from USA.
Camel racing
Essakane is the name of the desert oasis which is a stone’s throw distance away from where the Festival in the Desert is usually held. This oasis is located 65 km from Timbuktu town. The best mode of transport here is the 4×4 SUV. Tuareg tents as well as ground mats are the only accommodation facilities that are available. This is where the great fun of African festival lies. Travelers have to bring with them sleeping bags just in case fatigue catches up with them before the overnight festival is over.
Tuareg people are sometimes referred as the blue people because of their blue garments and turbans that stain their bodies in blue. Although those blue people live under harsh conditions of the Sahara Desert, they have amazing arts and crafts. Tuareg people are famous for being great camel trainers and for their crafts of wood work, leather work and jewelry as well as their traditional Tuareg music. Camels have a vital role in the lives of Tuareg people and they have a leading role during the Festival in the Desert. It is a great fun to watch camel racing during the festival after the professional training of those for the racing. The winner of the camel racing is awarded with a sword.