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.
…Continue reading to THE ARTICLE »