<p>Amadou & Mariam are the Zeitz Foundation’s Ambassadors for Culture (Art), a role they share with Usain Bolt, the Zeitz Foundation Ambassador for Culture (Sport). From their beginnings in West Africa, the duo now performs at the four corners of the globe and also participated in this year’s FIFA World Cup kick-off celebration concert in South Africa. In this interview, Amadou shares his thoughts about the Zeitz Foundation, The Long Run and impact, and provides a more general perspective on how art contributes to a sustainable future.</p> <p> </p> <p> </p> <p><strong><em>Why did you accept to be a Zeitz Foundation Ambassador?</em></strong></p> <p> </p> <p>We are interested in the objectives of the Zeitz Foundation. As Africans, we are very much concerned by the environment and sustainable development. We think it is a very good initiative as it combines the protection of nature, culture, communities and commerce. It’s a novel idea that we very much like.</p> <p> </p> <p><strong><em>How do you interpret the Zeitz Foundation’s Long Run philosophy: an approach to life geared at acting today for a better tomorrow?</em></strong></p> <p> </p> <p>We think The Long Run philosophy is very profound. We need to ensure a sound future and it is therefore necessary to see things in the long-term to create a better future. Associating conservation, communities, culture and commerce leads to a healthier life and favours economic development.</p> <p> </p> <p><strong><em>What concrete steps do you take in your daily/private life that are in line with the Foundation’s philosophy?</em></strong></p> <p> </p> <p>We try to send out messages; we travel a lot and meet many people. By talking to them, we can promote a philosophy, a good way of life. We try to incorporate meaningful themes into our songs, such as preserving nature, addressing North-South issues or picking up plastic waste. We try to give people courage and hope through our songs. We sing, that is what we do!</p> <p> </p> <p><strong><em>As leading figures on the international music scene, your outreach is extremely broad. What choices are artists making that will trickle down to their many fans and ultimately support the Zeitz Foundation’s vision? (Zeitz Foundation’s is vision of an ecosphere – our planet and all of its life-sustaining regions – maintained in the healthiest possible state, with the major contribution to that health coming from people making sustainable choices.)</em></strong></p> <p> </p> <p>Artists are doing many things. For instance we came together on a song about climate change. We collectively try to draw attention to the threats that nature faces. There are many projects out there, also on the humanitarian front.</p> <p> </p> <p>We recently contributed a song, "Tambara" to the ‘Enough Project’, and Downtown Records’ ‘Raise Hope for Congo’ compilation to raise funds for the protection and empowerment of Congo’s women and to promote peace in Congo.</p> <p> </p> <p><strong><em>As Zeitz Foundation Ambassador for Culture (Art), what role do you see art playing in securing a sustainable future for the world?</em></strong></p> <p><em> </em></p> <p>Artists create and draw from their surroundings. We like the idea of allowing art to flourish in general. Art has many sides to it, including cultural and commercial aspects. By creating art, we can draw other people’s attention to things that we relate to. It is a circle, the commercial side of things allows an artist to live, which in turn allows us to create art and sing, and transmit our messages to our audiences.</p> <p> </p> <p>Artists are also inspired by nature. There is much talk about the environment, about preserving nature and not wasting its resources. There are many things to do to make the global situation better, such as planting trees for instance.</p> <p> </p> <p><strong><em>2010 is the International Year for Biodiversity, how do you see this resonating with the general public and the art community?</em></strong></p> <p> </p> <p>Yes, musicians are aware of this. Many of us are nature-lovers and we talk about environmental issues. We don’t necessarily always talk about nature in our songs, but it is a topic that we discuss. We ask many questions. Artists analyse our world, they look at how things are going and have their moments of anxiety. We are not engaged at the same level as environmental professionals, but we are nonetheless aware of what is going on.</p> <p> </p> <p><strong><em>Long Run Destinations are nine very special locations around the world. Have you visited one? And how do you see these places making a difference to the planet?</em></strong></p> <p> </p> <p>No, unfortunately I have not, but I would like to. And I also believe these places can make a difference. I would like Mali, my country, to have a Long Run Destination.</p> <p> </p> <p><strong><em>You come from Mali, can you provide a concrete example of how your country and your continent are moving towards a more sustainable future? </em></strong></p> <p> </p> <p>People are aware of the need to move towards a more sustainable future. Trees are planted and the countryside is maintained for instance. People know that they need to preserve nature. They know the forests need to breathe so as to give them pure air. My country has a less dense population than Europe but many people go to live in the bigger towns. In the villages, a more traditional way of life prevails, with agriculture, fishing, livestock rearing and commerce on a smaller scale.</p>"We think The Long Run philosophy is very profound," says the internationally-acclaimed duo from Mali, "We need to ensure a sound future and it is therefore necessary to see things in the long-term to create a better future. Associating conservation, communities, culture and commerce leads to a healthier life and favours economic development."
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