Art, Crafts, and Workshops

Artwork, Handicrafts, and Workshops

Bogolan Workshop

Bogolan is a natural dyeing technique that has been practiced in Mali since ancient times. In this workshop, you’ll transform T-shirts and fabrics into unique and original works of art.
You’ll also learn that natural dyeing uses plants rich in tannins—which also have medicinal properties—as well as clay and sunlight to set the colors, and how to repeat the steps. In the Bambara language, these plants are called “Basilan,” a purely Malinké term meaning “medicines/medicinal plants” (basi) and “result” (lan).

Bring your T-shirts, clothes, etc., and customize them at our booth!

Join us for a creative and rewarding experience!

Alain

Having touched wool and been touched by it, it becomes clear that this fiber is a constant companion on my current journey. One thing leading to another, the weave takes shape, and the fabric—the scarf, the blanket—comes into being. The colors follow, and the garment adorns us. We are no longer naked; our temple can now be adorned with its finest attire. Thank you, Life, for granting me the right to be here.

Braids and Henna

Discover the captivating art of braiding and henna at the Yelen Festival! Let yourself be swept away by the richness of traditions and colors in a warm and festive atmosphere. Whether you’re a beginner or an enthusiast, join us to explore this world where creativity and beauty come together.
Come experience unique moments and let yourself be inspired by the magic of this unforgettable event.

Eric Zongo - puppets

Eric Zongo, a puppeteer from Burkina Faso, will introduce you to his various characters and also teach you how to make them!

Camel or donkey

How about taking a ride on a camel or a donkey with the Jura Mountains as a backdrop? Thanks to the enthusiasts at kamele.ch, come discover this majestic animal!

At the Yelen Festival, the camel isn’t just a spectacle—it’s a connection.
A bridge between cultures.
A friend to meet.

Young and old alike can get up close, listen, pet the animals, and walk alongside them.
And perhaps, for just a moment, feel the heart of the desert beating.

Prices: Camel ride: 5.-
Donkey ride: Donations welcome

Abdou and Mohamed

Make, taste, and dress up… Meet Abdou, from Niger, and Mohamed, from Mali—jewelry makers and artisans. You’ll have the chance to create traditional jewelry. Plus, for a moment, you can step into the shoes of a Tuareg by donning the traditional “
” turban and taking part in the tea ceremony.

Christophe Beguin

Weaving together the supple, fragile strands of willow to create a rigid, sturdy object is a structuring, almost hypnotic process; it allows you to settle down, calm your thoughts, and give your hands and fingers the chance to practice living without machines.

Emma the Blacksmith

Under the starry sky of the Yelen Festival, come discover a world where a spark becomes light, where metal sings beneath the hammer. In the ancestral forges of Les Clées, Emma shapes steel with a passion inherited from her father, a master blacksmith since his youth. Come and let yourself be enchanted by the harmony of iron and fire, orchestrated by this vibrant and dynamic soul. Every tool, every file, every knife is a poem in steel, forged with love and expertise.
Emma transforms raw material into works of art, celebrating the strength and beauty of the woman who forges.
At the Yelen Festival, the sound of anvils and the scent of heated metal invite you on a unique journey. Come admire the mastery of this passionate artist, and let the magic of the forge awaken your curiosity and inspire your dreams.

Fashion Show

Mali / Cape Verde

Saturday: 3:00 p.m.

Immerse yourself in the world of Mali’s artisanal creations at this year’s Yelen Festival. Come discover the latest pieces made from natural cotton, beautifully dyed using the ancestral Bogolan technique, which combines plants and clay to create unique, richly textured patterns. Each piece is skillfully hand-woven by artisans from Ségou, renowned for their craftsmanship and dedication to preserving local traditions. In addition to Bogolan creations, this year’s festival also features stunning pieces made from wax print fabric, offering an explosion of vibrant colors and patterns. Every garment and accessory tells a story, uniting the past and present through Malian art and craftsmanship.

Don’t miss this opportunity to discover and appreciate these unique and authentic works of art at the Yelen Festival. Immerse yourself in the cultural richness and creativity of Malian artisans, and let yourself be captivated by the beauty and originality of their creations.

Design: Mireille Keïta
Seamanship: Moussa Keïta
Makeup and Hair: Marie Mattei

Nongma Kaboré

Sculptor and Bronze Artist | Burkina Faso / FranceAt age sixteen, a chance encounter opened the door for Nongma Kaboré to a bronze foundry in Koudougou. He spent four years there as an apprentice, discovering every step of this ancestral craft: preparing the clay, modeling the wax, designing the molds, and then entrusting the form to the fire until the metal took shape. After settling in France, he continued on his path, balancing craftsmanship, the transmission of tradition, and creative expression. In 2002, his encounter with the artistic metalworker Olivier Monteil allowed him to share a studio at the Usines Nouvelles and gave his work a new space to thrive. Through his bronze sculptures, Nongma Kaboré explores the human condition. His “thinkers” sometimes bear the weight of the world; his female figures walk, dance, and leap with grace. He primarily creates statuettes and has also, together with his students, created a 1.50-meter-tall statue of Christ for the chapel at the Lycée Saint-Jacques-de-Compostelle in Poitiers.

Bambara Solo

Very early on, I learned to listen to wood and stone. For several years, in my studio in Ouagadougou, I worked with tropical wood from the Sahel and saponite stone gathered in my father’s village. My first sculptures, though modest, were born out of the need to live; above all, they taught me that material has its own voice. Through various encounters and experiences, the desire to reconnect with the spirit and wisdom of my royal ancestors from Garango led me toward more personal works. Driven by this quest, I traveled for nearly ten years between Africa, Europe, and the United States, gradually forging my artistic identity. I experiment with raw material, carving, polishing, and assembly. I seek to give form, life, and a story to these materials. Stone, wood, and salvaged metals become the languages through which I express my vision of the world: a vision where nothing is inert, where every fragment carries a memory ready to be reborn.

Zama Nonma

With Ismaël Compaoré and the Zama Nonma association, the audience enters a workshop where skins, ropes, and colors tell their story. There, we discover how a djembe comes to life: stretching the skin, tying knots, tuning it, listening to the material, and respecting the rhythm of the movement. The workshop then moves on to leather dyeing: choosing pigments, letting the color soak in, watching the shades emerge, and then transforming the material into small pouches and take-home items. It’s a vibrant experience where you can touch, try, understand, and leave with the memory of knowledge passed down.

Yves Gaillard

Musicien et artiste plasticien lyonnais, Yves Gaillard dessine, peint et modèle la terre pour proposer le temps d’un regard des échappatoires aux affres du monde…
À travers le projet de peinture collective spécifiquement prévue pour Yelen, Yves s’adresse au public et propose à nombre de personnes tous âges confondus de laisser leur empreinte personnelle dans un événement qu’elles aiment et soutiennent et, de ce fait, d’en devenir des participantes.