Mission
Virginia Friends of Mali is working to create and promote educational and cultural pathways to understanding and cooperation between the peoples of the African nation of Mali and the state of Virginia, USA.
Teaching Timbuktu
At the heart of VFoM’s mission are its programs and tools that support the Mali/World History requirement for the Virginia Standards of Learning (SOL) for 3rd – 6th grade students and their teachers. These programs have included musical and storytelling events as well as exhibitions of Malian art and artifacts. They provide further vehicles for educators, artisans, and other cultural practitioners to share their knowledge with the next generation.
Connecting Cultures
VFoM organizes inter-cultural exchange programs designed to connect the people of Mali and Virginia in compelling and productive ways. These exchanges have included excursion groups to Mali during the Festival on the Niger as well as hosting Mali’s prime minister and ambassador to the U.S. We hope to promote the exchange of cultures between the sister cities of Richmond, Virginia and Segou, Mali.
And Then There’s Music!
Our two favorite annual destinations are the Festival Sur le Niger in Segou (February) and the Richmond Folk Festival in Richmond (October). These are spectacular gatherings of musicians and performers to showcase the tradiational music of the festival regions as well as internaitonal influences and introductions. Malian musicians have performed in the Richmond Folk Festival since its inception, reinforcing and expanding Virginian knowledge of the origins and evolution of music of Africa and the Americas. Virginia musicians have performed at the Festival Sur le Niger as well and we look forward to bringing more visitors to both for many years to come.
