Paper short abstract:

The Cultural Caravan for Peace was created as a peacekeeping mean, promoting political reconciliation to face the aftermath of the Malian political crisis. This proposal aims at underlining the paradoxical position of cultural actors in a conflict situation, between neutrality and involvement.

Paper long abstract:

When the Malian crisis starts in 2012 with the military coup and the occupation of the North by rebel armed groups - mostly jihadists groups, more than 200 000 northern inhabitants urgently leave their home to flee oppression and violence. Founded on former claiming for independence from Touareg populations, the conflict strengthens a feeling of division within the whole country, between main geographical and ethnical areas.

As per a reaction to this situation, a group of artistic promoters decide to launch the Cultural Caravan for Peace. This peacekeeping mean aims at circulating a federating message, promoting intercultural dialogue and political reconciliation through shows to be given in different affected places in Mali and around. Every stop on the road appears as a quiet and joyful musical meeting point between different ethnic groups composing the public for one night, despite rampant surrounding threats. The peaceful word is widely spread thanks to the artist's fame and international medias. But the Caravan becomes institutionalized year by year. A large portion of the northern communities, including rebel groups, who are still favourable to obtain the autonomy of their Saharan region, doubt over its initial political neutrality.

Until today, the Cultural Caravan for Peace has surely impacted people's minds everywhere it passed by, sensitizing about mutual understanding. However, although cultural actors would rather stay on the side of the conflict, they finally get involved in actions reflecting their political opinion. This proposal aims at underlining the paradoxical position of cultural actors in a conflict situation.