Motherland is the blood in my veins: African blogger and TV presenter join the "What Does the Motherland Begin With" project
Participants in the "Russia–Africa: New Media Meanings" blogger tour — Malian television presenter Diengou Seck and Nigerien blogger Youtols — have joined the nationwide initiative "What Does the Motherland Begin With", organised by the National Centre RUSSIA with the support of the Government of the Russian Federation. Although they come from different countries, traditions and cultures, their answers, given at the National Centre RUSSIA, echoed one another.
"For me, my Motherland is the blood that flows through my veins. That is what my Motherland means to me. Niger is who I am," Youtols said, succinctly describing his bond with his native country.
Diengou Seck gave a remarkably similar answer. For the African television presenter, Motherland is not simply a place recorded in a passport but an essential part of who she is.
"I was born in Senegal, but I am Malian by nationality. Malian blood runs through my veins, so my homeland is Mali. I love my country deeply. Mali means everything to me. I live for my country and I work for it," Diengou Seck shared.
The project "What Does the Motherland Begin With" aims to strengthen people's sense of connection with their country while preserving cultural diversity and shared values through dialogue between people of different generations and regions. The project's first stage is a nationwide survey, which has already attracted more than 700 participants from 71 regions of Russia and several other countries. Anyone can share their thoughts on what their Motherland means to them via the russia.ru website.
The "Russia–Africa: New Media Meanings" blogger tour began at the National Centre RUSSIA on 26 July. It has brought together 50 journalists and bloggers from 12 African countries, whose combined audience exceeds 30 million followers. The project is organised by the Federal Agency Rossotrudnichestvo together with the "African Initiative" news agency as part of the "New Generation" programme.
2 August marks Airborne Forces Day in Russia, a national observance.
