A new theatrical production in Senegal is using humor and artistry to address serious public health and food security concerns related to rodents.
SAINT-LOUIS – A play titled “Janax yi ak nit ñi” (The Rodents and Humans) premiered Tuesday, February 24, in Saint-Louis, launching a national tour aimed at raising awareness about the health and agricultural risks posed by rodents. The production, a collaboration between the Compagnie Gratte Noyau theater group and several scientific partners, seeks to bridge the gap between scientific research and public understanding.
The play combines humor, emotion, and scientific accuracy to inform and engage audiences. “This play connects scientific research with the theater to inform, raise awareness, and collectively reflect on ways to combat the problems related to rodents,” explained Marianne Heinrich, the play’s director and co-producer.
The initiative stems from a significant concern: rodents, prevalent in both urban and agricultural areas, cause not only crop losses but also contribute to the spread of numerous infectious diseases. Researchers involved in the Biopass program suggest that improved rodent population management could substantially reduce agricultural losses. In Senegal, halving the damage to onion and rice crops would represent an annual gain of approximately 10,000 tons of onions and 12,000 tons of paddy rice.
Ambroise Dalecky, a researcher at the Population-Environment Laboratory within the Biopass program at the Institute for Development Research (IRD), emphasized the collaborative nature of the project. “This is a meeting between science and theater at the service of the population and public policies. The idea is to illuminate action and aid everyone take steps.”
13 performances scheduled between February and March
The project operates under a One Health approach, linking human, animal, and environmental health, and relies on partnerships with institutions including the IRD, Gaston Berger University (UGB), and the International Center for Agricultural Research for Development (Cirad). Coproduced by Khalilou Ba of KB Ingénierie Consulting Sénégal, the play aims to make scientific findings more accessible to the public. “The goal is to get scientific results out of the drawers of administrations and bring them to the actors,” Ba said. “What we have seen is pleasant, sometimes funny, but we especially wish what people remember to last.”
Following each performance, discussions and feedback sessions are planned to gather audience reactions and deepen understanding of the issues. Thirteen performances are scheduled between February and April across Senegal, including in Saint-Louis, Kaolack, Tambacounda, Kédougou, Kolda, Ziguinchor, Dakar, Thiès, Louga, Rosso/Richard-Toll, Podor, and in The Gambia. The tour is designed to reach a broad audience, including rural and urban populations, agricultural cooperatives, community health workers, and public officials.
“It’s really about conveying a message, not a message that gives lessons, but a message that helps people take action,” Dalecky insisted. Through “Janax yi ak nit ñi,” scientists and artists hope to foster a new dialogue between academic knowledge and real-world experiences, contributing to public health and food security in Senegal.
Jeanne SAGNA (Correspondante)
