2024-07-21 13:18:08
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There were initially 57 who submitted their applications via social networks and 11 were selected for the grand finale of the 2nd edition of the “Plume Verte” music competition on Saturday July 13, 2024.
Through songs and poems, these young people demonstrated creativity and talent through texts that raise awareness about the protection of the environment and biodiversity under the initiative of RioTinto Simfer and Kira studios.
At the end of this music competition, the members of this winning musical-environmental trio will be ambassadors to society with a view to raising awareness and protecting nature.
“To come back to this collaboration, I wanted to remind you that there was a first edition of Plume Verte which was organized by RioTinto Simfer. And this year, therefore, they asked us to collaborate with them to organize this second edition. The idea is to interest young artists, budding artists, to use their art to raise awareness, for the protection of the environment. That is, a bit, the theme of this year.
And so, we made a call for applications to these young artists. We had a pre-selection and their capacities were strengthened. And then, they reworked their music to come today to perform for the final selection in front of an audience and juries”, informs Billy Haba, the general manager of Kira studios.
To make this message about environmental protection and biodiversity go viral, these winners will benefit from support in producing and marketing an album.
“The idea is really to encourage them to use their art to really protect the environment. So exactly, they will work on works that will raise awareness for the protection of the environment, but also these trainings allow them to have the language, to have more information, even from young people, their friends and others, to be able to carry the message of the protection of the environment. Afterwards, what we can expect is that there were still three people who were selected, by the winners.”
During this competition in the Franco-Guinean cultural center of Kaloum, a screening on the protection of the environment and biodiversity around Mount Simandou caught the attention of more than one.
In the same vein, the CEO of RioTinto Simfer promised to continue working in this direction.
“This is a transformative project in a country that brings potential energy and excitement. And we are privileged to work with the people of Guinea to deliver Simandou in a way that will catalyse economic and social development in the country and bring prosperity for generations to come. This is a transformative project in a country that is brimming with potential, energy and excitement. And we are privileged to work with Guineans to deliver Simandou. We are working in a way that will catalyze socio-economic development across the country and catalyze prosperity for girls. And I speak for myself and our leadership team when I say that we are committed to delivering this project to the highest standards, in a way that preserves and protects Guinea’s resources and natural environment,” he said. He continued: “We are currently organizing a cedar bank initiative that has allowed us to identify, collect and store vulnerable plants so that they can be introduced into a fully protected biodiversity corridor. To date, we have collected over 10.6 million of these discovered around the project site for conservation and establishment for future conservation. We are also supporting the Forest Center in Nzérékoré… I speak for myself and the Rio Tinto management team when I say that we will deliver Simandou to the highest standards and in a way that preserves Guinea’s natural resources and environment,” he added.
Following these speeches, the 11 finalists performed in turn. Under the watchful eye of the jury, “Les fantastiques” took 1st place, “El Vinus” 2nd and “Qio” 3rd place. For Abdoul Mbaye, the criteria played a big role in untangling these talents.
“It was about creativity, it was about technical performance and then it was also about originality and the emotional side. So I think the three who were selected did their homework pretty well. It’s really on a few points that they’re close behind each other.
But basically, what we need to remember today is that the Fantastics completely wowed us with this performance. And then I hope that we will have a sequel from this Quartet which really, I think, has a future and perfectly masters their art,” he informed on behalf of the jury.
For Michel Nyonkeloa “Mike” from the group “Les Fantastiques”, it was not easy to work with 4 people but it was worth it. His joy is immense.
“We are really moved. The only thing we can say is thank God. It’s already not easy to sing with four people. When you are four, it’s not easy at all to compose, to write the text, because everyone has their own mood. We had to create a polyphony in our different voices, in our different songs.
And that’s what really marked the text in Soussou and French. So, I think that’s what the organizers liked the most, because there were rules to respect.
“In particular, the time allowed, between two or three minutes. Taking over the stage, giving emotion to the spectators. I think that’s what worked much more in our favor,” he rejoiced.
Full of gratitude to RioTinto Simfer, through Mike, Les Fantastiques guarantee to convey awareness messages and contribute to the protection of the environment and biodiversity especially until 2025.
“What I can say is that we avoid cutting down trees. That we avoid cutting down trees, that we avoid throwing garbage into the sea, like in the gutters or whatever. That we respect the instructions, above all. And that we can make Guinea a land where there is less waste, above all.
First of all, we thank the organizers for this project. We hope that this project will continue, continue for years to come. And above all, we hope that they will support us as much as we would like. Until the year 2025 passes, I believe that we will be the ambassadors of this project.
And we will continue on this, we will prepare clips, songs in the context of the environment, biodiversity, global warming and everything.”
Following the deliberations on this 2nd edition of the “Plume verte” music competition, each participant received a prize.
The winners will benefit from support for the production of a song and video as well as a media campaign.
May Cissé