20080429-Conakry
20080610-Yamoussoukrowww.thisfabtrek.com > journey > africa > mali > 20060116-essakane-more
Where are we? Central Sub Saharan Africa.
And people come from far.
That is what I like about festivals.
The mixture, blending of different nationalities, races, people, music. Each individual becomes an unobtrusive part of a greater whole. For a couple of days.
Touareg/Tuareg gathering before sunset.
The kids are alright
Chase
Scène Traditionelle, Touareg/Tuareg.
Traditional Touareg//Tuareg dance and musique performed by groups like Tamana and Tendé. (See a film.)
More from the concerts
Aiestar, Irish folk.
"It took us three days to get here". She introduces the band. A long way from home. They received a warm welcome. And a bit of Irish pub feeling wants to disperse.
Markus James and Tinariwen, desert Blues.
Californian Markus James has been recording with Malian traditional Wassoulou and Songhai musicians for many years and it has won him wide acclaim.
Tinariwen (means empty places) is a band of Toaureg tribesmen, a guitar band formed in Algerian refugee camps.
Vocals alternate between Tamashek and English rendering a very special note. True cross-over. Wonderful.
More here, and here, and here, and Markus' remembering Ali. Interesting as well the Malian connection.
Great Bassékou Kouyaté and American Leni Stern.
She is the target of ridicule, dedicates one song to Ali Farka Toure another one to the people of Touareg, a song that she calls Insha'Allah. She demands sympathy all too obvious when her guitar playing is just average and her songs flat. An embarrassment. Poor Bassékou. Guitar Player, Leni Stern's desert diary. PS. 200802. Her official page.
Bassékou Kouyaté (myspace) is the master of the ngoni/n'goni. And he has played it since he was a boy. "It was a toy for the children". Already his father was one of the best players around. Bassékou is passionate about promoting his mystical instrument. And he's played it with stars like Carlos Santana ... But read it all here.
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