Wed July 16 2008  —  e-mail Manfred  —  e-mail Hasna  —  sound of Mali, Jimmy Yacouba Soubeiga

Segou, Festival sur le Niger. 2nd day.

That's us This Fab Trek

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Thursday, February 03 2006

1 year, 6 month, 12 days

Segou, Mali

Navigation.

About.

Travel the world, as an independent photographer, imagine life.

Learn, understand, tolerate, enjoy, live - inhale different conceptions of life (all that TV [and the web] cannot give).

An Amazigh saying from the Moroccan Atlas: Those who rush are already dead. And Alain de Botton in The Art of Travel: Journeys are the midwives of thoughts. Take time and ponder - is from myself.

Land Rover Defender 6x6
Link to Foley

The prime vehicle is a cool 6-Wheeled Land Rover Defender, Foley's made, which needs a lot of caring attention. Some times we use other transport, however - with fuel prices up and shortages to come maybe we switch entirely, - some day.

The idea, adventure, project had been growing in my head for years. This feeling inside, the desire to leave and live a different life, it made it too easy to give up a job, give all other stuff away and hit the road. 22nd of June 2004.

In May 2005 I meet Hasna, Moroccan, she comes along! We are married, have two twin boys, Daniel and David. This Fab Trek continues. Photography and Journey, Story of Life Around the World.

I love Music, Art, Festivals and photography there off.

This is us.

Hasna, Manfred, Essaouira
Manfred in the desert of the Western Sahara
Hasna Essaouira
Hasna wedding Austria
Daniel left and David right
Daniel David, in Land Rover 6x6x, beach in Djembereng, Casamance, Senegal
Daniel and David on Bonnet of Land Rover 6x6x, on way to Casamance Senegal, eating Bananas.
Daniel and David with nanny Aisha, the best we ever had, black African Woman carrying white twin babies, in Bamako, Mali.

Land Rover 45,508km

Trekking 305km

Ferry 694km

Train 150km

Other cars 5.336km

The Journey
as it happens.

Fcontains Festival/Art photography.

www.thisfabtrek.com > journey > africa > mali > 20060203-segou

Opening, Mamou Daffé, Hamadoun Tandina

Mamou Daffe, opening speech.
Director, Mamou Daffé
Minister.
Ministre, ..

Hamadoun Tandina, story teller.
Hamadoun Tandina.
Hamadoun Tandina, story teller.
A saint.

Hamadoun Tandina describes himself as a "bag full of words, tales, poems and songs". Others say "travelling ambassador of African culture", "a pupil of the big school of mother nature", ... , anyway he gave a great satirical speech about abandoning everything from egoism to racism and politicians to dictators to judges to customs officers and ...

He speaks on the last (4th) day of the festival as well. And as the picture shows (at night) he is a saint.

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Donsow strolling, Quay of Arts

Donsow (hunters), and old powerful brotherhood, where teachings are passed from master to disciple, from one generation to the next. Their esoteric teachings are based on knowledge of the character of animals, the healing power of plants and the learning of magical incantations.

They are feared and respected by everyone, as therapists who drive out bad spirits. The founding of empires can be attributed to Donsow.

Donsow come to the show carrying rifles from the last century and they are not just carrying them.

Donsow chief.
Chief of the Donsow.
Head of a younger Donsow.
Eyes closed, sensing nature.

Donsow group appears slowly, musicians, hunters.
Donsow, carrying rifles and koras.
Donsow hunter with rifle against blue sky.
Hunter and rifle.
Donsow hunter with rifle against blue sky.
Front loading and Peng!...

2 Donsow hunters with rifles.
... cause people to jump in terror.
Donsow group of 3 elder.
Moving cautiously slowly, ....
Donsow group of 3 elder.
... just as they do when hunting.

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Korédugaw, strolling Quay of Arts.

A differnt lot then the Donsow, their ritual behaviours carry other characteristics. They are funny (clowns), behave comically and use obscene language, they sometimes wear womens' clothes and false jewellery, and eat as much as they can all the time ...

They have been peace keepers in times of conflicts, rainmaker in times of drought, bring good fortune in general ...

They are untouchable, allowed to do anything, enjoy unlimited respect.

Koredugaw chief.
Koredugaw, looks like he's the chief.
Koredugaw.
laughing.
Koredugaw chief on a different day.
Chief again.
Koredugaw 2 Calabash.
Marching in with 2 Calabash.

Koredugaw women.
Women join in ...
Koredugaw women.
A dance with a calabash ...
Koredugaw woman.
Cheerful, exuberant, ...
Koredugaw white man is pert of group.
White guy...
Koredugaw group of women watching, clapping.
Women watching.
Koredugaw women dancing.
Nothing can stop them.
Koredugaw women dancing.
The heat is growing.
Koredugaw woman with wistle.
Not just from the sun overhead.

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Masks and Puppets

Dance with high jumps, action inside the tent.
Action inside the tent.
Masks and puppets/animals and characters.
Masks and puppets/animals and characters.

Big guy.
Rainy season, harvest, circumcision events.
Women dance inside the tent.
Every group includes dancers,
Women dance inside the tent.
drummers and musicians.

Women dance inside the tent.
Bina Coumaré, and Soku.

I cannot distinguish yet between a Soku, one string violin, and a Njarka, one string violin, or maybe it is the same instrument called differently in different parts or the country or in different languages. Or maybe a Soku is made of callabash or ... and a Njarka seems to be smaller ...

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Decorated by Fire

Crowd on beach waiting for the show to start.
Crowd on beach waiting for the start of the concerts.
Fire installation.
Arty.

www.thisfabtrek.com > journey > africa > mali > 20060203-segou

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