Bignona / Baïla · 18 - 23 July 2025
Six days to co-build a territorial advocacy strategy, then translate the messages into works with seventeen artists: a mural, paintings, slams, a collective anthem.
From 18 to 23 July 2025, in Bignona and then in Baïla, ARTS and the DyTAEL gave themselves six days for two linked tasks: lay an advocacy strategy anchored in research findings, and translate it into the language of the artists who would carry it.
Two successive phases. On 18 and 19 July, a co-construction workshop brought together in Bignona the DyTAEL, the IPAR researchers and the ARTS team: research recap, identification of advocacy themes, priority actions, and the formulation of a 2030 objective.
From 21 to 23 July, seventeen artists took over in Baïla. Slammers, painters, musicians and a storyteller, under the direction of Leuz Diwane G and the beatmaker By Mic, worked to transform the messages into works: a bedroom served as a studio, a school wall became a mural, and three foresight scenarios took the form of a triptych.
Mission prepared by Yunuça Gueye.
17
Artists
3
Painters
3
Slammers
10
Musicians
5
Works delivered
Workshop · 18 - 19 July
The workshop opens with a research findings recap led by Dr Sidy Tounkara and Anta Faye (IPAR): Bignona 2045 territorial foresight and mapping of agroecology initiatives. Dense material, presented to fuel collective reflection.
The ARTS consortium then officially hands over the research reports to the Secretary General of the Bignona DyTAEL, marking the partners' commitment to putting scientific evidence at the service of advocacy.
Working groups then list the territory's challenges and levers. Five themes are selected.
Themes selected
Facilitators: Dr Sidy Tounkara (IPAR) · Anta Faye (IPAR) · Clément Sambou (DyTAEL) · Bintou Badji (DyTAEL)
Objective
Four priority actions
Action 01
Strategy
Identify and multiply peasant seeds, train producers, set up a local certification system.
Expected impact
Strengthen seed sovereignty and ensure access to seeds suited to agroecological practices.
Action 02
Strategy
Conduct a diagnosis with stakeholders (SODAGRI, valley committees), mobilise public authorities, raise awareness on maintenance and reforest the surroundings.
Expected impact
Improve access to water for farming, livestock and fishing; secure agrosylvopastoral and fishery activities.
Action 03
Strategy
Raise awareness on sustainable land use, establish local conventions and village fishery committees, organise consultations.
Expected impact
Preserve ecosystems, organise the use of rural space and improve productivity.
Action 04
Strategy
Map existing infrastructure, rehabilitate and create granaries and stores, study technical feasibility.
Expected impact
Reduce post-harvest losses, improve marketing and increase producer incomes.
Residency · 21 - 23 July · Baïla
Slammers, painters, musicians and a storyteller - a team diverse in disciplines and sensitivities, led by Leuz Diwane G (already the author of the SEM BAY and WAT GAAL YËGOO tracks produced with ARTS) and the beatmaker By Mic, whose mobile mini-studio enabled on-site recording.
Direction
Leuz Diwane G
Artistic direction - author of the SEM BAY and WAT GAAL YËGOO songs produced with ARTS.
Direction
By Mic
Beatmaker, set up the mobile mini-studio for recording and mixing.
Painting
Dainzo
"Food sovereignty" mural on the wall of the Bignona agricultural high school.
Painting
SillArt
Painter and art education teacher at the Bignona high school. Triptych of the three 2045 foresight scenarios.
Painting
Odia
Cartoonist trained at the École nationale des beaux-arts. Four pieces: bush fires, processing & trade, land disputes, the farming trade.
Slammers
Musicians
Programme
01
Monday 21 July
02
Tuesday 22 July
03
Wednesday 23 July
Works delivered
A permanent mural, a triptych that materialises the foresight scenarios, four painted cartoons, two tracks recorded on site. Each work becomes a tangible support for the advocacy strategy.
Mural
Dainzo
Mural painted on the wall of the Bignona agricultural high school, a permanent visual support for the advocacy.
Series of paintings
SillArt
Three paintings illustrating the three scenarios of the Bignona 2045 territorial foresight led by IPAR with the DyTAEL.
Painted cartoons
Odia
Four pieces on bush fires, the processing and marketing of local products, land disputes in Casamance, and the valuation of the farming trade.
Collaborative song
Leuz Diwane G + collectif
Collaborative sung track that mixes authenticity and engagement. Conceived as the anthem of the advocacy campaign for sustainable food systems in the Bignona department, and beyond.
Recorded slam
Art'Fan, Soleil de minuit, Libidor
Track recorded by the three slammers in the mobile studio, integrated into the advocacy campaign.
Listen
Three clips to watch directly, produced in the wake of this residency with Leuz Diwane G and the slammers collective.
SEM BAY - The strength of Casamance agriculture (Leuz Diwane G)
WAT GAAL YËGOO - The Earth's cry (Leuz Diwane G & Collective)
My Land, My Future - Engaged slam (ART-FAN-SLAM × Soleil de Minuit & Professeur)
Messages carried
A collective reading of the messages the artists chose to put forward, drawn from the research findings and the DyTAEL advocacy axes.
Denounce
Bush fires and land grabbing
Claim
Women's access to land
Evoke
Youth unemployment
Flag
Authorities' responsibilities in natural-resource management
Value
Processing of local products, livestock farming, fertility of Casamance soils
Fight for
Renovation of the Afiniam dam
Celebrate
Bravery of the youth
Call for
Responsible, inclusive and sustainable land governance
To keep the momentum going
Finalise and stabilise the action plan of the DyTAEL advocacy strategy and support its implementation.
Support the DyTAEL in spreading the messages and mobilising communities, decision-makers and technical and financial partners.
Turn the collective track into a music video to ease its promotion.
Set up a follow-up and capitalisation system for advocacy actions.
Facilitate exchanges between the different DyTAELs of the country to share good practices.
A natural sequel
This residency strengthened the synergy between research, advocacy and artistic creation. It sits in direct continuity with the DyTAEL forum theatre and the mapping of initiatives.