Sun November 09 2008  —  e-mail Manfred  —  Follow me on Twitter  —  Facebook

Segou, Festival sur le Niger. 2nd day.

That's meFollow This Fab Trek on Twitter

Flag Mali

Thursday, February 03 2006

1 year, 6 month, 12 days

Segou, Mali

Navigation.

About.

Manfred and MB307
Journey to India.

Manfred is creator of ThisFabTrek.com, photography and journey, a travel blog (since 2004).

Understand and tolerate, report and photograph, enjoy and live - inhale different concepts of life (all that TV [and the web] cannot give). Reject jealousy, animosity, bigotry. Be free.

Manfred in the desert of the Western Sahara

The mind, when pondering at night has always asked those questions. What are you doing in corporate wonderland, banking, university, office, church. Who is the other animal asleep inside, thinker, punk, creative, cowboy, vagabond, anarchist, healer, artist, writer, photographer, intellectual? Oh God dare you to think.

So when he sees the gamble, manipulations and lies he follows the old old dream, sets out for this journey that is called life, explore the world traveling overland.

Manfred is father of twin boys, Daniel and David.

ThisFabTrek is ongoing. Photography and Journey, Story of Life Around the World, Music, Art, Festivals and Love and Peace. Photography and articles are for sale.

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.

6 wheeled Land Rover.

Land Rover Defender 6x6
Link to Foley

The vehicle of the Africa adventures, a Foley 6-Wheeled Land Rover Defender.

Land Rover 45,508km

Trekking 305km

Ferry 694km

Train 150km

Other cars 5.336km

RSS feed
Share
Bookmark and Share

The Journey.

contains 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.

back to top

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.

back to top

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.

back to top

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 ...

back to top

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.

back to top

Comments

Postings by readers don't necessarily represent my own views. I delete what I deem inappropriate. So be fair, don't swear. Discuss photography, travels, places, politics, whatever else faintly touches the subject of the page.

I am the editor of a Christian magazine for seniors. I am looking for a photo to illustrate an article called The Paramount Chief. I am wondering if you would give permission to use your photo (with credit) of Chief of the Donsow?

Thanks for your consideration.
#1 - Greg - 03/15/2009 - 18:31
wow what a life ,well done for stepping off the "Grid"long may it last go well friend best wish's to you and yours
#2 - Doug Richmond - 09/09/2009 - 09:53
Name
E-mail (Will not appear online)
Homepage
Title
Comment
To prevent automated Bots form spamming, please enter the text you see in the image below in the appropriate input box. Your comment will only be submitted if the strings match. Please ensure that your browser supports and accepts cookies, or your comment cannot be verified correctly.



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

back to top