In the capital city of Togo, Lomé, a unique performance combined basketball, art, and music, captivating the audience.
"Les Basketteuses de Bamako," a group of six Malian artists and basketball players, presented a show that fused juggling, drumming, music, and dance. Led by Thomas Guérineau, a former juggler and director, the group uses basketball as a central instrument for artistic expression.
"This project is based on rhythm and sound. We play with balls, sneakers, drums, and sticks. There's a lot of equipment and dancing. It's not basketball, but it's basketball mixed with music," said Kadiatou Togola, a member of Les Basketteuses de Bamako, underlining the importance of this artistic fusion.
Guérineau, who started working with the Malian artists in November 2021, highlighted the surprising three-beat sound created by hitting a basketball.
"What's surprising is that when you hit a basketball, it's actually a three-beat sound, a syncopated three-beat," he explained. "I found it very innovative, because it's not common. I found it very interesting," wondered spectator Makafui Zandji.
The show went beyond juggling, featuring singing and dancing, creating a visual and audio symphony. "This is the first time we have played this show in Africa. The performers, who are all Malian and therefore African, had high expectations. It's been great, because we've had a really warm welcome," said Guérineau.
Prior to their show in Lomé, the Basketteuses shared their knowledge at a masterclass with young Togolese students. This initiative enabled participants to discover and explore this innovative art form, opening up new perspectives and inspirations for future generations.
"This is work I created with Malian artists, women basketballers from Bamako. I started working with them in November 2021. So it's been over two years," explained Guérineau.
The "Basketteuses de Bamako" not only made their mark in Lomé with their exceptional stage performance but also sowed the seeds of a new passion for art and creativity among Togolese youth.
