In January 2025, the NGO Gabon Terre d’Avenir (GTA) gave new momentum to Gabonese music and culture by partnering with Le JAM (Jazz Action Montpellier) to integrate musical projects into its ecovillage, Ndossi Village, located in the heart of Akanda National Park. Here’s a closer look at this innovative collaboration that combines music, traditions, and sustainable development.
Project Context: A Decisive Encounter
The story begins when Dr. Yoan Mboussou, president of GTA and a passionate pianist, met Mr. Karl Moussavou in January 2025. The latter, seeking a partner to continue a musical initiative following the end of a collaboration between Awax Music School and its partners, quickly recognized the potential offered by Ndossi Village to realize this project. As the leader of the group L’Escoute, Dr. Mboussou saw this as an opportunity to enrich Ndossi Village’s cultural offering while promoting Gabonese music.
A Collaboration with a Landmark: Ndossi Village
Ndossi Village, both a tourist ecovillage and a multidisciplinary training center, stands out as a unique venue for promoting Gabonese traditions and cultural innovation. Led by GTA, this project aims to:
Highlight Gabonese arts and traditions, including music and dance.
Train young people in various trades such as construction, hospitality, carpentry, and communication.
Provide visitors with an immersive experience through outdoor activities and an in-depth exploration of Gabonese culture.
By hosting this musical project, Ndossi Village solidifies its position as a key player in preserving and modernizing Gabonese traditions.
Key Aspects of the Initiative
This initiative revolves around several concrete activities:
Instrument Restoration Workshop: An initial workshop will be organized at Ndossi Village with on-site teams to restore and maintain instruments.
Exchange Between Musicians: The project will facilitate meetings between traditional Gabonese musicians and external musicians, fostering knowledge sharing and cultural transmission.
Musical Fusion: A unique creation blending traditional and modern music will be produced, showcasing the richness and dynamism of Gabonese culture.
Partnership with the Mighoma Cultural Center: Some of the restored instruments will be provided to the Mighoma Cultural Center, recently opened by Annie-Flore Batchiellilys, a renowned musician and Gabonese senator. This center, which aims to promote Gabonese culture through training and artistic activities, will play a crucial role in amplifying this effort.
Acknowledgments
This project would not have been possible without the support and commitment of many partners. GTA extends its deepest gratitude to:
Le JAM (Jazz Action Montpellier), for its guidance and trust throughout the project.
Awax Music School, for co-organizing the early stages of this initiative.
Tanguy Akendengué, for connecting the teams with local musicians.
Ndossi Village, for hosting this project and fully committing to its implementation.
Annie-Flore Batchiellilys, for her support and collaboration with the Mighoma Cultural Center.
Nem’s, for expertly managing the transport of materials.
L’Artisan du Piano, for its invaluable assistance in transporting equipment.
Séga Seck and Quentin Boursy, for their inspiration and similar projects in Senegal.
All donors, whose generosity made this project possible.
Future Prospects
This is just the beginning of an artistic and cultural journey that promises to have a lasting impact. GTA and its partners remain committed to fostering intercultural exchanges, enriching Gabon’s cultural offering, and providing unique opportunities for young talents.
The journey continues, and we hope many of you will join us in the next steps of this project, which celebrates Gabon’s musical and cultural heritage.
Stay tuned for more updates on Ndossi Village and GTA initiatives!
Comments