“ON EST ENSEMBLE” (WE ARE TOGETHER)
The USAID Peace Through Development II (PDev II) Program seeks to empower youth through civic education, leadership training to increase participation in local decision-making, capacity building for youth associations, vocational and entrepreneurial skills training, and expanding livelihoods. Between 2011 and 2015, PDev II has trained about 2,100 youth in leadership, participatory theater, mobile cinematography, short-film production, social media and community mapping. During training for short-film production in October 2015, eight young people from across Niger formed Kasan Matassa which means “Country of Youth” (in Hausa). Their first song, On Est Ensemble, with accompanying video, shares a musical message of peace and unity ahead of the February 2016 elections.
Performed in Hausa, Kanuri, Zarma and French, the mix of song and poetry in the video calls upon all to remember the ties which bind.
Launched on February 10, 2016, the video is being distributed via BlueTooth to Nigerien youth, media outlets and establishments where young people congregate.
One Est Ensemble was produced by Moussa Djingarey with support from PDev II in collaboration with implementing partner Search for Common Ground.
