Sun March 04 2018  —  e-mail Manfred

Segou, Festival sur le Niger. 4th day.

Flag Mali

Thursday, February 05 2006

1 year, 6 month, 14 days

Segou, Mali

About Travel Photography,
Colors of the World.

Manfred is creator of ThisFabTrek.com, travel photography, a travel blog and a photography blog (a journey from 2004 to 2013). 'I set out to see the colors of the world, always I try to capture the colors'.

Seeing, is understanding, so I report and photograph, but formost enjoy and live those different conceptions of life (all that TV [and the web] cannot give). I reject jealousy, animosity, bigotry. Be free!

Manfred in the desert of the Western Sahara

The mind, when pondering at night and always asked those questions. What am I doing in corporate wonderland of bank, university, office or church? Who is the other animal asleep deep inside, the thinker, punk, creative, or Indian, vagabond and healer, maybe artist, writer, photographer, traveler, globetrotter? Oh God, dare you to think. When I saw the lies, gambles and manipulations I follow the old dream and set out for the journey of life lived, the journey to see the colors of the world.

During years on the road I have taken the turns as they came along, and realized one thing: Only such a small part of the planet can be explored and such a vast land and sea mass will always remain unknown, to me; many swamps, jungles, deserts and oceans will never be traveled. But then I am father of twin boys, Daniel and David, my most important, and I show them some of the wonders and colors out there.

ThisFabTrek, Photography and Journey, the Stories from the Road and Life around the World, stopped in August 2013 after more than 9 years, Love and Peace.

Last vehicle.

G20, Chevy Gladiator.

Chevrolet Gladiator G20, The boys in Cordillera Blanca, Peru.
The boys and Chevy van, Peru.

The G20, the vehicle that came to me for the Americas adventures.

6 wheeled Land Rover.

Land Rover Defender 6x6
Link to Foley

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

Before, the MB307.

Manfred and MB307
Journey, Middle East.

The vehicle of the Middle-East and North-Cape Journeys. See all vehicles.

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

Travel Blog

contains Festival/Fiesta/Art photography.

"There is nothing more powerful than an idea whose time has come." - Victor Hugo.

"What matters in life is not what happens to you but what you remember and how you remember it, to tell the tale." Living to Tell the Tale - Gabriel García Márquez.

"They never taught wandering in any school I attended. ... they never taught the art of writing a book, either. It's all so mysterious."
"Wandering is an art in itself. Wandering and writing don't mix"
"Writing demands commitment and if one thing your wanderer is allergic to is that very quality of commitment, for once one is committed he runs that very risk of failure ..." Wanderer - Sterling Hayden.

"Photography enables you to grasp a place first time round. ... Photography is a means of exploration, it's a vital part of travel, almost as essential as a car or a plane. " - Wim Wenders.

"The worst prejudice we acquire during our youth is the idea that life is serious. Children have the right instincts: they know that life is not serious, and treat it as a game..." , Egon Friedell.

"How far you gonna go. Before you lose your way back home" - Tryin' To Throw Your Arms Around The World, Achtung Baby, U2.

"If you want to be a hero well just follow me." - Working Class Hero, John Lennon.

"When I think of all the things I have done, I know that it's only just begun." - I love you, Lou Reed.

"One does not escape the Sahara - the Sahara let's you go or not" - Touareg.

"Planet earth is blue and there`s nothing I can do" - This is Ground Control to Major Tom, David Bowie.

"Glory for the crazy people/in this stupid world" - Ahmed Fouad Negm.

www.thisfabtrek.com > journey > africa > mali > 20060205-segou

Closing, Cheick Oumar Sissoko.

Koredougaw chief.
Koredougaw chief.
Koredougaw strolling, dancing.
Dance to the drums, Koredougaw.

Well before Koredougaw and Donsow stroll the quay as some days ago at the opening ceremony. Women dance to the drum beats, the feast is in full swing.

But then soon officials arrive, amongst them le ministre de la culture Cheick Oumar Sissoko. He understands his matter, is the non-political in the government, he holds the government position because of his qualification. The former film director talks freely without the help of a script for some 15 minutes, presenting his visions in many different languages. Interview 1994, comprehensive interview 2003 in French. There is lots more on Google, most though in French.

People follow with interest, this congenial, likable minister.

Cheick Oumar Sissoko on the festival ground.
Culture minister Cheick Oumar Sissoko, looks into my camera.
Cheick Oumar Sissoko on the festival ground.
Cheick Oumar Sissoko, in his speech.
Mamou Daffe director, closing remarks.
Mamou Daffé, director's remarks.
Mamou Daffe director, realxed and happy.
Mamou Daffé, he is happy now..
Speakers at the closing.
in English and French.
Crowd.
Crowd, Koredougaw listening in front.
Audiance.
A festival for the people of Segou.

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Adama Yalomba

his myspace.

After the opening ceremony, sun sets over a quiet Niger river while Adama Yalomba is doing his balance (sound check).

What is the name of his instrument Mali-music says it's a dan/n'dan, not a kora as I believed. Others call it le yalomba, as it is pretty much his own creation. Or is it a 9 string n'goni?

P.S. March 2008: Finally I have the answer. It is a Kamel n'goni with 12 strings. Thanks Geoffroy.

His performance was one of the best, and he gives it all always carrying that remarkable boyish grin in his face.

When I go back I have to buy some of his music.

Adama Yalomba stage
Sound check in front of setting sun.
Adama Yalomba soundcheck, his silhouette.
Adama Yalomba Silhouette.
Adama Yalomba stage
stage.

Adama Yalomba smiles
smiles.
Adama Yalomba smiles
smiles.
Adama Yalomba smiles
smiles.

Adama Yalomba smiles
smiles, smiles, smiles.
Adama Yalomba detail face
A likeable guy.

Adama Yalomba side-detail
Detail 1.
Adama Yalomba side
He plays a dan they say on mali-music, not a kora.
Adama Yalomba side
Detail 2.

Adama Yalomba side
Flash photography.
Adama Yalomba side
Flash photography detail.

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Djénèba Seck

On Mali-music, the "preacher of Malian music". She says the things as they are and touches the ills of society. "Music has permitted me to overcome my timidity".

On Afrik.com (in French), a "beautiful voice, a voice as if it had run through the desert, carried over by the wind in search for the sea". She has won the Golden Tamani 2005, for the best Malian artist of that year.

Djeneba Seck waving
Djénèba Seck.
Djeneba Seck hand detail
her hand.
Djeneba Seck
Djénèba Seck.
Djeneba Seck front
Djénèba Seck.
Djeneba Seck happy, smiles
So happy to be here.
Djeneba Seck happy, smiles
Don't know who he is (husband?)

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Her Singers

But really as a photographer I am more interested in her singers. They happen to stand in one fine line. In choosing my position to get to those shots I have a small feeling of doing something right here, finally.

Djeneba Seck happy 3 Singers
Djeneba Seck happy 3 Singers
Djeneba Seck happy 3 Singers
Djeneba Seck 3 Singers
Djeneba Seck 3 Singers
Djeneba Seck 3 Singers
Djeneba Seck 3 Singers
Djeneba Seck 3 Singers
Djeneba Seck 3 Singers
Djeneba Seck 3 Singers

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Tamani, talking drum

Tamani, or N'tama played holding it in the armpit (armpit drum). Others call it talking drum for the difference it makes in sound when squeezed under the armpit.

Djeneba Seck's Tamani player
Tamani.
Djeneba Seck's Tamani player
Detail 1.
Djeneba Seck's Tamani player
Detail 2.
Djeneba Seck's Tamani player
Tamani.

Djeneba Seck's Tamani player
spots me..
Djeneba Seck's Tamani player
spots me....
Djeneba Seck's Tamani player
spots me........

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Molobaly Keita

Molobaly Keita.
Molobaly Keita.
Molobaly Keita.
liked by his people..
Molobaly Keita.
Detail.
Molobaly Keita.
Molobaly Keita.
Molobaly Keita.
side.
Molobaly Keita.
front.

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Earlier in the day

Nyangara

Nyangara from Segou.
Nyangara, Abdoulaye in front.
Nyangara from Segou, dancer.
Nyangara, dancer.
Nyangara from Segou, chanteuse.
Nyangara, chanteuse.
Nyangara from Segou, dancers.
Nyangara dancers.
Abdoulaye from Nyangara, days earlier playing the Kora for Habib Koite.
Abdoulaye playing Kora ...
Abdoulaye from Nyangara, days earlier playing the Kora for Habib Koite.
off stage before.

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Nico and Julie

The friends did not get much sleep recently (2 hours yesterday, may be 3 the day before). And the gain ?! Well maybe a bloody well organised festival and appreciation from ministers and other officials to the people from the BBC and just friends like myself and Hasna.

And they have started contemplating, "will we do another year here in Segou?", or "where are we going next?", "where's the next festival, we can contribute to?"

I for my part hope I can join them again, same place or another.

Nico and Julie, last day of festival, reckoning.
Julie Dupas, Nico Legendre.
Nico and Julie, last day of festival, reckoning.
It's over, "professionally organised" the minister.
Nico and Julie, last day of festival, reckoning.
The work is done, time to ponder.

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