Khady Niang explains Dakar YOG cultural choices
By the AFREEQUE newsroom, based on Senego
Khady Niang, director of ceremonies for the Dakar Youth Olympic Games, said she had prioritised collective movements and African cultural references over technological effects. She notably cited Aline Sitoé Diatta, Cheikh Anta Diop, Lat Dior and the film Touki Bouki in an interview with RFI Afrique.
Khady Niang, director of ceremonies for the Dakar Youth Olympic Games (YOG), said she had prioritised people, young people and African references when designing the opening ceremony, rather than technological effects. In an interview with RFI Afrique, she described a production based on collective movements, a city inspired by everyday African life and Senegalese historical and cultural figures.
The ceremony notably drew on references to Alkebulan, Aline Sitoé Diatta, Cheikh Anta Diop and Yandé Codou Sène. Khady Niang also cited Lat Dior, associated with a horse and a song by Kiné Lam, as well as the poster for Djibril Diop Mambéty’s film Touki Bouki, evoked by the presence of a motorbike.
The director of ceremonies said she wanted to avoid portraying Africa as reduced to skyscrapers and signs of wealth. She also explained that choosing a Senegalese and African artistic director and stage director was intended to allow the organisers to retain control of the event’s narrative. The motorbike inspired by Touki Bouki was subsequently used by Beyoncé and Jay-Z to promote their On The Run Tour II in 2018.
These explanations add to the presentation of Khady Niang leading the YOG opening ceremony, published on 2 November. The ceremony took place after reactions to the opening of the Dakar YOG, notably congratulations from the US embassy on 31 October and tributes from Kirsty Coventry and Bassirou Diomaye Faye on 1 November.
