Tamesna school is rare in Niger because we support extra curricular programs that bring new opportunities for the students.
Music, particularly guitar is an important tradition to all Tuareg who have lived through recent rebellions, but now that there is peace, the older rebellion musicians are no longer teaching the Tuareg guitar tradition to the young. I was always surprised that a whole generation of young men who were in the rebellions knew how to play and knew all the songs. Music is still enormously important to the Tuareg, but the young need the opportunity to continue this tradition.
This year Bob Wright donated two beautiful new Yamaha guitars to the school to expand our music program. Alhassane, music director will do two monthly missions to teach and play with both the kids and the school director who also plays and wants to learn more. They will have access to the guitars under the supervision of an adult so they can practice.
Alhassane, music director with Leslie and Assadek presenting the new guitars to the students of Tamesna school.
Baye, who is an accomplished hip hop dancer, is a natural in music. He is one of the enthusiastic students.
The students did their annual redecorating of their dorms. The rains wash off the old paintings so they get to do it every year.
New decorations for Tamesna school student shelter.
Dr. Becky and Pat taught the kids how to plant seeds, fertilize with manure and water them–they will watch them come up in the classroom and then plant them later outside. This is to give the hint of agriculture to nomads, who have very little experience of it.
Each student planted seeds to watch them grow.
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