20080429-Conakry
20080610-Yamoussoukrowww.thisfabtrek.com > journey > africa > guinea > 20071130-conakry
Jean Baptiste Williams, Jeannot.
The 8th edition of the Djembe d'Or Festival is on, I call Jeannot Williams the jouranlist/direcor of the festival, and he grants me permission to take pictures. Jeannot is Guinea's TV presenter numer 1 what ever concerns music. Djembe d'Or is his invention and is one of the prime cultural events in Guinea, it is like the Grammy in Guinea. And Prime Minister of the Republic of Guinea Lansana Kouyate attends, a great honour for all participating artists and audiance. The man has my deepest respect.
"Djembe is not just and instrument, it is our language".
First day is in the Hotel Camayenne, 2nd in the Palais du Peuple. Light, sound and stage are excellent. There is money involved. The list of sponsors and partners includes Intercel, TV5, RFI, CFI, Africable and a few more.
I enjoyed most Guinean Missia Saran Diabate who sang about peace and love and no war, she's cool. I am quiite happy with the pictures taken of Malian Babani Kone.
Mamady Keita, Djembefola, a man who makes the djembe talk is the highlight in the Palais du Peuple. For 25 minutes he and his group Sewakan show what great Guinean Ballet is all about. Stunning after all that I have seen. Well he is (one of) the best.
And certainly I did not expect Sayon Camara to win the Djembe d'Or for best album of the year, most albums sold.
Missia Saran Diabate.
Peace and Love, strong words like "No more war in this country", she's cool.
Djely Kany Fanta.
Babani Kone, diva from Mali.
Babani Kone, play back. I like the pictures I manage to take from her. I meet her next morning in the lobby of Hotel Camayenne. She pulls out her card. "My last one!" "You better keep this. I know how to contact you in Bamako."
Fallou Dieng.
Senegalese.
Kabakoudou, Grand Devise.
Grand Comedians, some music clip of them is on TV all the time. I call them les deux chapeaux.
Mamady KeÏta.
Djembefola, someone who makes the Djembe talk. Mamady KeÏta (wiki), Guinean lives in the US, owns a dozen of percussion schools around the world. He is one of the best. At the age of 14 he entered the Ballet National, became later its artistic director for some 10 years. A great honour for every Guinean, when he is back. Absolutely stunning.
Michel Gohou, comedian from Cote d'Ivoire.
Mangala Camara, Mali.
Only play back, I would admire him performing live in Segou, Mali soon, a magic voice.
Fatoumata Kamissoko, Sayon Camara, best album of the year.
Both won the price. Fatoumata Kamissoko, according to popular vote via SMS (thanks to Intercel). Sayon Camara, according most records sold. It is Fatoumata's first album, Sayons 3rd. Fatoumata's album came out only a few weeks ago, her beautiful song La Guinée where she sings about the recources the land has and how little is done with it, is extremely popular at the very moment. Whereas, Sayon's album has been on the market for a long time. Sayon had been popular for many years. It is her 3rd album.
For many more pictures of Sayon Camara go back a page.
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