AgroVoices: a documentary from the heart of the Petite Côte territories

Following the participatory mapping phase, CREATES, through its AgroVoices project, is launching the production of a documentary filmed in the areas of Bandia–Sessène (Sindia commune) and Ndiouck–Fissel (Sandiara commune), on the Senegalese Petite Côte.

An immersion into the territories

This documentary offers a deep dive into the territories, highlighting the cultural richness of local communities, but also the growing impact of extractive activities on the land: quarries, factories, agribusiness, and other exploitations that are profoundly transforming the landscape and ways of life.

Between economic pressures and cultural stakes, these territories are seeking a balance. The documentary sheds light on the realities experienced by rural populations facing rapid environmental transformations. Understanding these dynamics means better supporting the sustainable solutions driven by the communities themselves.

Audiovisual tools serving research

The AgroVoices project is built on a conviction: audiovisual tools can enrich research just as research feeds the documentary. The camera does not merely illustrate — it allows subjects to be explored in depth through immersion, capturing words and realities that conventional interviews do not always grasp.

A gentle, co-constructed approach

The filming approach is co-constructed with the communities. The camera does not impose itself — it accompanies. The inhabitants are not filmed subjects, but actors who participate in narrating their own story. This approach is fully aligned with CREATES’ action-research philosophy: producing knowledge that is rooted in the territories and driven by local actors.

The documentary is part of the broader ARTS and Bey Diiwaan projects, which aim to strengthen sustainable food systems and the agroecological transition on the Petite Côte.