The Niger – A River and Mankind

Without claiming to be in any way exhaustive, it tackles a number of fundamental questions bearing on the future of the river, through research and experiments carried out as part of the project. 

Free events and activities (concerts, earth architecture workshop, storytelling and film showings), along with debates / discussions, are also on the menu. Ligerians Claire Giraud-Labalte and Patrick Gillet (Angers UCO), Jean-Pierre Berton (IMACOF / University of Tours), and Daniel Roussel, architect, introduced the panel discussion held on 13 May on the theme “Development of the river: dialogue between riverside lands and the place of culture”. 

In counterpoint, the “Val de Loire World Heritage Site” exhibition organised by Mission Val de Loire was also installed at the National Museum in Bamako, by the Mission’s Directress Isabelle Longuet and its Head of Mission responsible for Education and Culture, Rémi Deleplancque. The exhibition paints a photographic portrait of this cultural landscape. Reflecting overall concerns, it reminds visitors that, throughout the world, other riverside populations share the same questions on nature’s indispensable gift to us all – her rivers. 

Niger-Loire: governance and culture

The project enabled local authorities, associations and scientists at work alongside the banks of the Niger and the Loire to share their experience of the river and their questions on its future.  

The project’s “Training” focus  resulted, among other things, in creation of a Professional Master’s in “Decentralisation and Local Development Engineering”, on offer from the Town-Planning and Regional Development Institute at the University of Bamako, with a number of courses taught by Val de Loire academics. On the occasion of the exhibition, the Ligerians in attendance gave classes at the University of Bamako. 

A publication on development and city planning in Mopti will also be appearing in the near future. 

 On this website: 

• Niger-Loire: governance and culture

Download: 

• Presentation of the exhibition and programme of Niger-Loire activities

On the Internet: 

• NNiger-Loire: differing perspectives on a common asset ( World Heritage Review No.59 World Heritage and Water )