je n’ai pas eu l’impression que c’était un patrimoine à préserver mais plutot une culture vivante et pleine d’avenir.
Le but de l'UNESCO n'est pas (que) de "sauver in extremis" des patrimoines mourants. C'est aussi de mettre en valeur, protéger et/ou documenter ce qui existe. Mettre en valeur le fest noz à l'UNESCO, entre autres, aura pour conséquence immédiate une attention accrue des étrangers; on imagine sans mal l'intérêt économique que l'inscription peut avoir.
Et encore une fois, l'UNESCO n'a pas vocation à décider unilatéralement ce qui est inscrit à la liste du patrimoine mondial de l'humanité. Ils ne font que traiter des demandes d'inscription faites pas les autorités locales (dans certains cas, surtout quant il est question du patrimoine matériel, il arrive qu'ils proposent cette inscription mais ne peuvent jamais le faire sans une coopération pleine et complète des responsables dudit patrimoine). Dans le cas du fest noz, la demande a été faite par la Direction Générale des Patrimoines et approuvée par les collectivités locales (Saint-Jean du Doigt, Kerpert etc...).
Remerciez-les ou maudissez-les : c'est à eux qu'on doit cette inscription. L'UNESCO n'a fait qu'accepter une demande dûment établie.
"Massa", Fatoumata Diawara's new album
Fifteen years after her debut album "Fatou" (World Circuit), Fatoumata Diawara has become a key figure on the international music scene. Born in Abidjan and raised in Bamako, this singer and guitarist began her career as an actress before turning to music in 2011. She has performed at prestigious festivals, including Glastonbury (UK) and Montreux (Switzerland), and shared the stage with international stars like Roberto Fonseca, Damon Albarn, and Paul McCartney. This artist effortlessly moves between continents and genres, all while singing in her native language, Bambara. Her new album "Massa", released in May on the Parisian label Nø Førmat!, was produced in collaboration with French musician -M- (Matthieu Chedid) and is her most personal work to date. Diawara explores both political resistance and her life as a daughter, mother, and artist. Musically, "Massa" draws from her homeland, Mali, blending West African traditions with pop, reggae, funk, electro, folk, and rhythmic structures from Afrobeat and jazz.
These stylistic blends never feel artificial or calculated. Traditional rhythms and melodic turns merge naturally with contemporary sounds, creating music that feels both familiar and fresh. But the album’s real strength lies in its songs—narrative pieces whose beauty comes from their sincerity, not spectacle. Her voice carries a unique power: it can be soft yet determined, vulnerable yet confident.
"Massa" is her most personal and introspective work yet. This globally acclaimed singer, songwriter, and guitarist also sees herself as a socially engaged artist—one who doesn’t just get people moving but aims to touch hearts and minds. She tackles social themes like the breakdown of human relationships, disappointment, betrayal, jealousy, and the complex dynamics of polygamous family structures. She also addresses female genital mutilation without preaching, instead sharing stories from her own experience that resonate universally.
Some artists preserve tradition. Others bring it to life. Fatoumata Diawara undoubtedly belongs to the latter. With "Massa", she creates an album deeply rooted in Mali’s musical heritage while speaking the language of the present.
hgb
https://fatoumatadiawaranoformat.bandcamp.com/album/massa

Fifteen years after her debut album "Fatou" (World Circuit), Fatoumata Diawara has become a key figure on the international music scene. Born in Abidjan and raised in Bamako, this singer and guitarist began her career as an actress before turning to music in 2011. She has performed at prestigious festivals, including Glastonbury (UK) and Montreux (Switzerland), and shared the stage with international stars like Roberto Fonseca, Damon Albarn, and Paul McCartney. This artist effortlessly moves between continents and genres, all while singing in her native language, Bambara. Her new album "Massa", released in May on the Parisian label Nø Førmat!, was produced in collaboration with French musician -M- (Matthieu Chedid) and is her most personal work to date. Diawara explores both political resistance and her life as a daughter, mother, and artist. Musically, "Massa" draws from her homeland, Mali, blending West African traditions with pop, reggae, funk, electro, folk, and rhythmic structures from Afrobeat and jazz.
These stylistic blends never feel artificial or calculated. Traditional rhythms and melodic turns merge naturally with contemporary sounds, creating music that feels both familiar and fresh. But the album’s real strength lies in its songs—narrative pieces whose beauty comes from their sincerity, not spectacle. Her voice carries a unique power: it can be soft yet determined, vulnerable yet confident.
"Massa" is her most personal and introspective work yet. This globally acclaimed singer, songwriter, and guitarist also sees herself as a socially engaged artist—one who doesn’t just get people moving but aims to touch hearts and minds. She tackles social themes like the breakdown of human relationships, disappointment, betrayal, jealousy, and the complex dynamics of polygamous family structures. She also addresses female genital mutilation without preaching, instead sharing stories from her own experience that resonate universally.
Some artists preserve tradition. Others bring it to life. Fatoumata Diawara undoubtedly belongs to the latter. With "Massa", she creates an album deeply rooted in Mali’s musical heritage while speaking the language of the present.
hgb
https://fatoumatadiawaranoformat.bandcamp.com/album/massa









The musician
The painter
The band (l. to r.: Muir, Fripp, Cross, Bruford)
Hi everyone,
From this photo, can you tell me which song the artist Ultimo is performing—or at least give me as much info as possible so I can track down the title of this song?



