In the middle of one of Bamako’s residential neighborhoods, a parade of larger-than-life marionettes marches through the streets.

The puppet parade is part of the annual Rendez-Vous Chez Nous festival (meaning “come to us” or “meet at our place” in French) organized by the Nama marionette and dance group.

The festival, now in its ninth year, features over 200 puppets and aims to promote social cohesion through street arts.

Though daily life seems to carry on despite the giant puppets taking over the neighborhood, life in Bamako has been anything but routine lately.

A militant group affiliated with al-Qaida, known as JNIM, imposed a fuel blockade in Mali in early September.

By early October, the blockade had reached the capital. Bamako has been brought to its knees, with fuel nearly unattainable.

The economy has ground to a halt as businesses struggle to stay open and employees have no way to get to work.

The government closed schools for two weeks in October because of the fuel shortages.

Yacouba Magassouba, director of the Nama company and the festival, says the current situation made him more determined than ever to continue with the parade.

“Right now, it’s a difficult time, but we as artists don’t give up our work because of difficult times. We continue to show the whole world that we exist,” he explains.

Marionettes have long held cultural importance in Mali, where they have traditionally been used to tell stories and pass on wisdom.

“The history of puppetry in Mali is an ancestral history, dating back centuries,” Magassouba says.

“Our ancestors used puppets to communicate, to teach children about our culture in Mali. We have adopted it as an ancestral tool. I use it as a means of communication, education, and to showcase art in Mali.”

Rendez-Vous Chez Nous isn’t the only street festival in Mali, where cultural performances in public spaces are a common sight.

But the cultural scene has taken a heavy hit in recent years.

After military rulers seized power in a 2020 coup, many international partners stopped funding projects or left the country altogether.

That’s left many in the arts community without the support they need to continue.

Yacouba Doumbia, who watched as the procession passed by, is grateful the festival went ahead despite Mali’s challenges.

“These kinds of demonstrations can help us forget our worries, like the security problems, the fuel crisis, and other issues. So, from time to time, if we can have events like this, it's a good thing,” he says.

The festival also features dance performances, concerts and plays held in a public square.

Adama Traore, one of Mali’s most highly regarded theatre directors, says today’s marionette performances have evolved from the country’s traditional puppetry.

“The importance of this festival lies in allowing children to dream. And also putting into practice the dexterity and know-how by utilizing our heritage in a completely urban way. Because today's puppets are much more urban characters than the traditional marionettes,” he says.

AP video by Moustapha Diallo