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Baaba Maal In Conversation with Stephen Sackur
As the UN's climate conference draws to a close, Senegalese singing star and Africa Talks Climate ambassador, Baaba Maal discusses how culture can combat climate change. Grace Davies reports from Copenhagen.
On the eve of the final day of negotiations at the UN climate summit in Copenhagen, Africa Talks Climate ambassador Baaba Maaal spoke "in conversation" with BBC HARDtalk presenter Stephen Sackur.
In a wide-ranging discussion – including Baaba’s personal experience of the dramatic changes in climate and environment in his native Senegal, and the power of music to help explain the issues at stake – he then treated an audience of climate change experts and youth delegates to an intimate acoustic set.
Connection to the land
Baaba revealed his family's close connection to the land, talking about their nomadic history and the importance of the seasons in "the rhythm" of people's lives. He described how the loss of trees, lack of rainfall and desertification around his home in Podor, northern Senegal have impacted many people already, forcing changes in lifestyle and culture.
Asked about what people at home in Senegal understood about the changes they were seeing, Baaba said that many people - especially in more rural areas of the country - did not know why the changes were happening. He stressed the importance of information in helping people to understand and adapt to climate change:
"A lot of Africans are worried about climate change. They see the changes around them but can’t relate it to the science of global warming. This is why we need to communicate in local African languages to explain the things [people] can’t understand."
African solutions
As a world renowned musician and well known African figure, Baaba explained that he was in Copenhagen to help give a voice to all those people at this global level. He was clear to stress the importance of listening to Africa – not just because of the impacts being felt by millions across the continent – but also because the solutions to the global challenge of climate change could and should come from Africa.
"Africa is part of the third millennium," he said. "Africans need to be involved in any global process... and to have the chance to sit down at the table and make our voices heard".
He talked about the success of Wangari Maathai's initiative to protect the Congo Basin Rainforest ecosystem as a good model to base future development projects on.
"It has to be Africans to stand up and try to protect the forest first. First we need information, then we need to undestand and act. We have to be at the beginning of the process."
Music as a platform
Baaba, who in his youth was expected to become a fisherman like his father, spoke passionately about the unique place of music in African culture and history and how he uses it to communicate issues that matter most to him:
"When it comes to music and culture in Africa, it’s not like the west where it’s a business. In Africa we use it to educate our children, to learn about our history and social responsibilities and actions. Music is an important way of communicating messages, so when it comes to understanding climate change, people will look to the musicians."
This inspired him to write a song about his home by the Senegal River - which is under threat from inreasing desertification.
"I wrote a song telling everyone to plant more trees. When I made the video I sang in my local African language and in French. It was important to reach across different communities – my own people and those who live in the cities."
Hopes for the future
Earlier on in the day Baaba watched as over 500 young people took part in a debate about climate change and democracy in a special edition of the BBC’s World Have Your Say. "I was proud to see that the next generation was already thinking about the issues and how to bring about future change", he said.
"This is where technology is so important. Now, it’s much easier for us to talk to the rest of the world. We have internet, cell phones, computers. A young person in China or Bangladesh can use new technology to be connected to another young person like them in Senegal or in Kenya. If they exchange ideas they will be much stronger than the politicians and they will change something."
Baaba Maal was in Copenhagen with Africa Talks Climate taking part in a number of media events to raise awareness of climate change in Africa, including a youth debate with BBC World Have Your Say and The Greatest Debate on Earth with BBC World News.