Arts and Community-Based Approaches to Conflict Transformation, Social Cohesion and International Collaboration within the Scope of Foreign Cultural Policies. a Case Study on the ‘Donko Ni Maaya’ Project in Mali.

In the context of international collaboration, there is a growing recognition of the importance of integrating cultural knowledge and community-based approaches when addressing social cohesion, conflict and crises. Traditions such as ‘Maaya’ (‘humanity’ in Bambara) illustrate that conflict resolution, reconciliation, and resilience are deeply embedded in the cultures of Mali, West Africa. However, the impact of community-based approaches, local cultural knowledge and the cultural sector as a whole are often underrepresented in discussions on conflict transformation, peacebuilding and the strengthening of social cohesion. This paper explores how the promotion of art and culture can contribute to conflict transformation, crisis prevention, and social cohesion, using the example of the ‘Donko ni Maaya’ (‘Culture and Humanity’) project, implemented by the Deutsche Gesellschaft für Internationale Zusammenarbeit (GIZ) in Mali. The project focuses on empowering young cultural actors and the Malian youth, positioning them as 'agents of change.'

The paper addresses three key research questions:

1. How does the ‘Donko ni Maaya’ project strengthen the role of young Malians through cultural activities?
2. To what extent can the promotion of the cultural sector contribute to the creation of ‘Platforms for Transformation’ (Lederach 2013) in fragile states?
3. How can arts and community-based approaches to conflict transformation, social cohesion and peace be incorporated into foreign cultural policy approaches?

The research draws on both quantitative and qualitative surveys, resulting in a set of qualitative indicators that demonstrate the impact of art and culture in alignment with existing theories of arts-based peacebuilding (cf. Shank and Schirch 2008). The analysis focuses on three key areas: the creation of safe spaces in response to violence, securing the basic needs of youth as agents of change, and the necessity of artistic practice in establishing platforms for transformation.