Sun April 13 2008  —  e-mail Manfred  —  e-mail Hasna  —  sound of Mali, Jimmy Yacouba Soubeiga

Essaouira 2006, Gnaoua Festival, 2nd day. Abdellah El Gourd, Gaada Diwane

That's us This Fab Trek

Flag Morocco

Friday, June 23 2006

1 year, 11 months, 1 day

Essaouira, Morocco

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 47,032km

Trekking 313km

Ferry 730km

Train 150km

Other cars 12,443km

(MB207 7,208km)

The Journey
as it happens.

Fcontains Festival/Art photography.

www.thisfabtrek.com > journey > africa > morocco > 20060623-essaouira

Gnawa/Gnaoua music was brought to Morocco by the ancestors of today's celebrated musicians, slaves, captured in Sub-Saharan Africa over the centuries.

The word Gnawa most likely is being derived from the ancient trading empire of Ghana which covered parts of Mauritania and Mali. But slaves came frome all corners of Sub Saharan Afrika. Guinea, Gambia, Tchad, Ghana etc.

Maâlem Abdellah El Gourd (Tanger).

and his Dar Gnawa troupe.

Abdellah El Gourd, Essaouira 2006
Maâlem Abdellah El Gourd.
Abdellah El Gourd, Essaouira 2006
Maâlem Abdellah El Gourd.
Abdellah El Gourd, Essaouira 2006
Abdellah El Gourd, Essaouira 2006
Abdellah El Gourd, Essaouira 2006
Abdellah El Gourd, Essaouira 2006
Abdellah El Gourd, Essaouira 2006
Abdellah El Gourd, Essaouira 2006
Abdellah El Gourd, Essaouira 2006
Abdellah El Gourd, Essaouira 2006
Maâlem Abdellah El Gourd.

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Gaâda Diwane de Béchar (Algeria).

"Gaâda means get together, Diwane is a style of music which roots from South Algeria" Gaada.net. A bit like Gnawa but a different braket.

Gaada Diwane, Essaouira 2006
Gaada Diwane, Essaouira 2006
Gaada Diwane, Essaouira 2006
Gaada Diwane, Essaouira 2006
Gaada Diwane, Essaouira 2006
Gaada Diwane, Essaouira 2006
Gaâda Diwane de Béchar.

Gaada Diwane, Essaouira 2006
Gaada Diwane, Essaouira 2006
Gaada Diwane, Essaouira 2006
Gaada Diwane, Essaouira 2006

Gaada Diwane, Essaouira 2006
Group of great musicians.
Gaada Diwane, Essaouira 2006
... and voices ...
Gaada Diwane, Essaouira 2006
... sometimes mystic.

www.thisfabtrek.com > journey > africa > morocco > 20060623-essaouira

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