Well it's been a while and I did promise lots of pictures and stuff so here goes.
I have been back from Africa for 3 weeks now and it still feels weird. Styaing a month has really turned me upside down and inside out. It is so different from our western reality. I have never felt so accepted in a place.
Being a musician who embraces the music of Senegal has given me access to all kinds of stuff that I think I would not "see" if I were a Holiday-maker.
Most of the trip was spent learning more Bougarabou and Serouba, traditional drums of Cassamance. I have made some recordings and some video film and i need to edit it (after I get some software) before I can post it so look out for some sights and sounds soon(ish) Maybe a myspace music page happening.
The trip began with a wedding and I was given the job of photographing the ceromony...I had brought my trusty Pentax but no flash so I borrowed a digital camera...never used one before so I am quite happy with the results.
The wedding was a blaze of colour and sound and went on all day and night in Ziginchour
Plenty of pics to follow.
We returned to Abene post wedding and I began my study with my teachers, Master's Lamine and Koulaty.
My day would consist of rising early, breakfasting on fresh bread and cheese, drumming for 2-3 hours, eating lunch, more drumming 2-3 hours, eating dinner...singing and drumming round the fire and/or reggae parties...sleeping....do again.Simple yet wonderful. I learned much, relaxed like I never did before and basically enjoyed a short stay in Heaven. I am still suffering withdrawal and it has made me think about longer stays...both the ups and the downs. I love being there but the readjustment is seriously difficult both physically and menatlly. As I write it is snowing outside and my body has tensed up since I landed in the cold......its amazing how different I felt in the sunshine...was like losing ten years. My goal is still to try and spend 3 months of the year there but I would have to have Ness with me...3 months would be difficult without her. We will see..it is possible. For now I am working hard in schools and in the summer its time for a re-think. I realised during my stay that I want to perform more....just to play with other musicians....that in the coming years I want that to be a bigger part of my life...the teaching is great and I am fortunate to do something I love but I was given a chance to express myself as a musician this trip and to acknowledge that I am one.....I am hoping to be able to bring some of the musicians over from Senegal so that we can maybe do a little tour in the UK....First I gotta free up some time to do the organisatinal stuff...visas and the like....I could go on and on about Africa and Senegal in particular..it has my heart in its hands...a place that I seem to know at a deep level....a people with whom I feel at home...joy and generosity are present in equal measure....and from those who have nothing material to offer they give everything....and yet .this trip was not all positives though...during our stay there we heard news of a dear friend and fellow drummer who had caught Malaria in Guinea and died. Two days later another drummer we knew and had worked with was killed in a car crash.One english, one african....so sudden and so tragic...both were under 30 and graced with talent and charisma....I will miss them terribly.
We encountered some family issues this time around too....my companion has been sending money back from the west to support his family, his mother in particular....this newly aqquired "wealth" has brought electricity and water but also sibling unrest...petty jealousies.....trouble.....C'est La Vie. The balance between help and hindrence is a fine line....what my african friends percieve about the west is as ill informed as what I percieve about life in Africa...all the musicians I work with would love to come to the UK and work...but the reality here for many African Artists is one of struggle.....I will do what I can for the few I can.....insh'allah.
So I present to you a photo blog of this trip to africa....I think I am going to have to select a few to give an idea and then I can link you to my Flickr account if ya wanna see em all......enjoy.
Edit:I have been sent a couple of pics of yours truly from my trip so .....here ya go.
Oh and of course the New House......
I have been back from Africa for 3 weeks now and it still feels weird. Styaing a month has really turned me upside down and inside out. It is so different from our western reality. I have never felt so accepted in a place.
Being a musician who embraces the music of Senegal has given me access to all kinds of stuff that I think I would not "see" if I were a Holiday-maker.
Most of the trip was spent learning more Bougarabou and Serouba, traditional drums of Cassamance. I have made some recordings and some video film and i need to edit it (after I get some software) before I can post it so look out for some sights and sounds soon(ish) Maybe a myspace music page happening.
The trip began with a wedding and I was given the job of photographing the ceromony...I had brought my trusty Pentax but no flash so I borrowed a digital camera...never used one before so I am quite happy with the results.
The wedding was a blaze of colour and sound and went on all day and night in Ziginchour
Plenty of pics to follow.
We returned to Abene post wedding and I began my study with my teachers, Master's Lamine and Koulaty.
My day would consist of rising early, breakfasting on fresh bread and cheese, drumming for 2-3 hours, eating lunch, more drumming 2-3 hours, eating dinner...singing and drumming round the fire and/or reggae parties...sleeping....do again.Simple yet wonderful. I learned much, relaxed like I never did before and basically enjoyed a short stay in Heaven. I am still suffering withdrawal and it has made me think about longer stays...both the ups and the downs. I love being there but the readjustment is seriously difficult both physically and menatlly. As I write it is snowing outside and my body has tensed up since I landed in the cold......its amazing how different I felt in the sunshine...was like losing ten years. My goal is still to try and spend 3 months of the year there but I would have to have Ness with me...3 months would be difficult without her. We will see..it is possible. For now I am working hard in schools and in the summer its time for a re-think. I realised during my stay that I want to perform more....just to play with other musicians....that in the coming years I want that to be a bigger part of my life...the teaching is great and I am fortunate to do something I love but I was given a chance to express myself as a musician this trip and to acknowledge that I am one.....I am hoping to be able to bring some of the musicians over from Senegal so that we can maybe do a little tour in the UK....First I gotta free up some time to do the organisatinal stuff...visas and the like....I could go on and on about Africa and Senegal in particular..it has my heart in its hands...a place that I seem to know at a deep level....a people with whom I feel at home...joy and generosity are present in equal measure....and from those who have nothing material to offer they give everything....and yet .this trip was not all positives though...during our stay there we heard news of a dear friend and fellow drummer who had caught Malaria in Guinea and died. Two days later another drummer we knew and had worked with was killed in a car crash.One english, one african....so sudden and so tragic...both were under 30 and graced with talent and charisma....I will miss them terribly.
We encountered some family issues this time around too....my companion has been sending money back from the west to support his family, his mother in particular....this newly aqquired "wealth" has brought electricity and water but also sibling unrest...petty jealousies.....trouble.....C'est La Vie. The balance between help and hindrence is a fine line....what my african friends percieve about the west is as ill informed as what I percieve about life in Africa...all the musicians I work with would love to come to the UK and work...but the reality here for many African Artists is one of struggle.....I will do what I can for the few I can.....insh'allah.
So I present to you a photo blog of this trip to africa....I think I am going to have to select a few to give an idea and then I can link you to my Flickr account if ya wanna see em all......enjoy.
Edit:I have been sent a couple of pics of yours truly from my trip so .....here ya go.
Oh and of course the New House......
VIEW 19 of 19 COMMENTS
lizardam:
Yeah, something like that. I will have summers off! 
mark_plus_beer:
i don't always comment but i always like your pictures in here 