F.Y.I.

Hi John,

I have been a fan of your website Likembe for a couple years since I came across some thing you posted about Kuku Sebsebe. I also wanted to introduce myself to you.

My name is Danny Mekonnen. I am a Ph.D. candidate in ethnomusicology at Harvard. I work on Ethiopian music and will start my dissertation in about one year. I am also a bandleader and musician -- I play saxophone in my group Debo Band. The group is an 11-piece Ethiopian pop, together now for over three years.

We've been given the incredible opportunity to bring Ethiopian music for the first time to East Africa’s largest music festival: “Sauti za Busara” on the island of Zanzibar, February 11th-16th, 2010. We will bring with us 4 Ethiopian musicians and dancers living in Addis Ababa. This is a major opportunity for us to reach a wider audience and make further connections and collaborations with music in Ethiopia and East Africa.

Debo Band has launched an online fundraising campaign, and we have just 15 days left to raise more than $5,000 to pay for our upcoming African tour. We'd love you to watch our video and help spread the word. The success of this effort depends on this news reaching people far and wide.

See the video at http://www.kickstarter.com/projects/deboband/debo-band-returns-to-africa

We've received a grant which only covers some of the cost, so we are now seeking (tax-deductible) donations to complete the budget and make this journey possible. Any amount makes a huge difference -- most donations are $25 or $50, which will add up quickly to help us to our goal.

It's hard asking strangers for help, but I feel that the fund-raising is all for a good cause: an exciting opportunity for cultural exchange through music. We hope that when you watch the video you feel inspired to contribute in some way! Check out the video link above to see what we're up to, and please pass this on to more people who would be interested in this project. (You can also learn more about Debo Band at http://deboband.com)

Many thanks in advance for your time reading this email and for the work you do through your blog Likembe. I hope than we can be in touch in the future, and that we can find a way to work on something together.

All best wishes for the new year!

Cheers,
Danny

Salam Sounds

Researching that last post has got me to pondering the ways in which the kora, the traditional 21-string harp-lute of West Africa, has been combined with more modern sounds. There are plenty of examples, from the musical fusions of Foday Musa Suso and Djeli Moussa Diawara to Toumani Diabate's collaborations with Taj Mahal and Björk, to, incredibly, Naughty By Nature's 1991 smash hit "O.P.P."

None of these attempts to update the classic sound, in my opinion, approach the pure polyphonic joy of Ebrima Tata Jobateh's cassette Waato, recorded with his group Salam (apparently members of his extended family) and released by Kerewan Sounds in Gambia in 1995.

Efforts to find out more about this mysterious artist didn't yield much save this observation by Nick Deen of Natari: ". . . Tata's solo style is extremely impressive and in fact leaves the older Paris-based kora players like Mory Kante very much in the shade. Absolute magic all the way through." Of course, I wholeheartedly agree with Nick's assessment! Hear for yourself:

Tata & Salam Band - San-Chaba

Tata & Salam Band - Sabarla

Tata & Salam Band - Mali-Gambia

Tata & Salam Band - Boto Sanneh

Tata & Salam Band - Mariama Jallow

Tata & Salam Band - Kaira

Tata & Salam Band - Duwa

Tata & Salam Band - Alagie Danso

You can download Waato as a zipped file here. More new-fangled kora sounds to follow.

Volunteer profile - Jess, London

Why did you get involved in vinspired Lake of Stars?

I had heard about vinspired Lake of Stars from some friends and work colleagues and wanted to get involved, so I pestered the guys in the office until they let me work for them!

What did you do?

In Malawi: I managed the Beach Bar Stage, from the build before the festival all the way through to the get-out when it was over. Not only was I responsible for ensuring the schedule ran smoothly and everyone was in the right place at the right time, but also mentoring Stanley, an amazing guy from Malawi who managed the same stage during the daytime when it featured a fantastic array of Malawian acts, from acoustic sets to acrobatics. It was hard work with lots of late nights but the experience was definitely worth it.

What next?

I have gone back to work in events, but I would definitely like to stay involved with vinspired Lake of Stars, and would love for them to have me back next year.

Would you recommend volunteering for other young people?

Totally. It's not often anyone would willingly spend their holiday working, but vinspired Lake of Stars taught me that volunteering your time and doing something you enjoy can be so much more worthwhile than just lying on the beach. I found the skill-share aspect of my role particularly rewarding - it was so nice to be able to pass on some of my knowledge to Stanley and really see him getting something out of it which he can use in the future. Find something you like doing, and then find a way that you can make that help someone else - there's something out there for everyone!

If you're 16-25 and would like to volunteer, find opportunities at vinspired.com

Words and photo by Jess Leyton, vinspired volunteer

Volunteer profile - Jess, London

Why did you get involved in vinspired Lake of Stars?

I had heard about vinspired Lake of Stars from some friends and work colleagues and wanted to get involved, so I pestered the guys in the office until they let me work for them!

What did you do?

In Malawi: I managed the Beach Bar Stage, from the build before the festival all the way through to the get-out when it was over. Not only was I responsible for ensuring the schedule ran smoothly and everyone was in the right place at the right time, but also mentoring Stanley, an amazing guy from Malawi who managed the same stage during the daytime when it featured a fantastic array of Malawian acts, from acoustic sets to acrobatics. It was hard work with lots of late nights but the experience was definitely worth it.

What next?

I have gone back to work in events, but I would definitely like to stay involved with vinspired Lake of Stars, and would love for them to have me back next year.

Would you recommend volunteering for other young people?

Totally. It's not often anyone would willingly spend their holiday working, but vinspired Lake of Stars taught me that volunteering your time and doing something you enjoy can be so much more worthwhile than just lying on the beach. I found the skill-share aspect of my role particularly rewarding - it was so nice to be able to pass on some of my knowledge to Stanley and really see him getting something out of it which he can use in the future. Find something you like doing, and then find a way that you can make that help someone else - there's something out there for everyone!

If you're 16-25 and would like to volunteer, find opportunities at vinspired.com

Words and photo by Jess Leyton, vinspired volunteer

House of Kings

The Casamance region of southern Senegal has been the scene of sporadic fighting over the years between the central government and the separatist Mouvement des Forces Démocratiques de Casamance (MFDC). The area was formerly a Portuguese possession and is culturally distinct from the rest of Senegal. The name "Casamance" is said to derive from the Portuguese word for "house" combined with the Mandinka word for "king." An alternative explanation attributes the name to an old kingdom in the region called Kassa.

The music of Casamance also differs from the mainstream Senegalese sound, having more in common with the music of Guinea and Mali, with a distinctive Lusophone flavor. Orchestre Baobab, Toure Kunda and Xalam all have roots in the region, but the foremost musical group in the area has been the Sedhiou Band, variously known as UCAS de Sedhiou or the UCAS Jazz Band.

The Sedhiou Band was founded in 1959 as the musical group of the Union Cultural Association in the town of Sedhiou, and has had a varied lineup over the years. The most recent configuration features Ibrahima Sylla Dia on lead guitar, vocals by Abdoulaye Dandou Diedhiou, Seydou Ndao, Amadou Leye Sarr and Aminata Dieng Ndiaye, and a battery of percussionists and other musicians. The group came to the attention of most African music fans outside of Senegal when Africa Kambeng (Africassette AC9404) was released in 1998, a recording that is still in print and available from Amazon and Sterns.

The Sedhiou Band have released numerous recordings over the years (a 1970s LP is available from Worldservice here). I possess four cassettes by the group released during the 1990s, from which I present selections here. It's a sort of "Sedhiou Band Best of the '90s," as it were.

The title track of Saaroo, released in 1992, is distinguished by the kora playing of Sirakata Diebaté, who also features prominently on "Kambeng" from the same cassette:

UCAS de Sedhiou - Saaroo

UCAS de Sedhiou - Kambeng



I wish I knew the name of the female singer who graces the lovely song "Nenne Suuxo," permeated with a sense of saudade, that opens A Paris, issued in 1993. "Yaa Musoolu," from the same cassette, definitely kicks things up a notch:

UCAS Band Jazz de Sedhiou - Nenne Suuxo

UCAS Band Jazz de Sedhiou - Yaa Musoolu

In 1997 the Sedhiou Band made several recordings for the Gambia-based label Kerewan Sounds, and these reflect Gambian concerns. Notable is this praise song to the Alliance for Patriotic Reorientation and Construction, a political party that grew out of a military coup in the Gambia in 1994 and swept the 1997 elections. It continues to rule the country amid charges of intimidation of opposition parties. This is from the cassette Dimbayaa:

Sedhiou Band - A.P.R.C.

Also from Dimbayaa is this lively tune:

Sedhiou Band - Khady Kebe

Africa Kambeng, also released in 1997 by Kerewan Sounds, continues the theme of uptempo dance music combined with political paeans. "22nd July Movement" is a praise song to the 1994 miltary coup:

Sedhiou Band - 22nd July Movement

Here's another praise song, but apparently not a political one. There is a Senegalese professional basketball player named Ndeye Ndiaye, but she would have been 18 when this song was recorded, so it's probably not about her. I wish I knew more:

Sedhiou Band - Ndeye Ndiaye

Download these tracks as a zipped file here. If you enjoy this music, go to this post about Ramiro Naka from Guinea-Bisaau, and see if you don't hear a connection.

Letters from the Lakeside, Part 3 ...

Here is the third in Becki Cole's series of blogs about the time she spent in Malawi at vinspired Lake of Stars back in October ...

I was made up to find out that Cantmixwontmixshldntmixdontmix, a group of 5 DJs that work extensively in the Liverpool area, are also charitably minded: Bobby spent 8 months volunteering here in Malawi, teaching in Nkata Bay, and Jazzbo was keen to re-visit and help in any way he could after playing Lake of Stars in 2007. As a group they’ve done plenty of charity work before, supporting C.A.L.M. and Oxjam.

They brought two suitcases full of pens to Malawi, and another one is on it’s way with a friend who’s coming to volunteer in January - they were excited about donating them to a nearby school project they regularly support. The lads are clued up about responsible donating, as Jay Jay said: “It’s so important for people to support sustainable projects, not to just give meaningless handouts.” Chris had seen where aid is vitally needed first hand - he’d been in Mangochi hospital as a patient himself! “It’s been a rollercoaster: absolutely amazing one minute, in hospital seeing the horrors the next. It’s a big eye-opener!”

Mr Paul, who played the Beach Bar on Thursday, Friday and Sunday nights, clearly loved the country and the festival and everything it stands for, choosing to come out here for 4 weeks to really get a feel for the place. He enthused: “I love the great music, the good people.”

Geoff from SixAM raved about Lucius Banda, Black Missionaries and Body, Mind and Soul, calling the festival “awe-inspiring. There’s so much talent here, on and off stage. You only need to look around for 10 seconds and you see something that challenges or excites you.” I can’t think of a better way to describe Malawi as a whole to be honest! He also played Lake of Stars last year and is so smitten with the country that he talked of moving here one day: he dreams of setting up a dance, drama and music school: “there’s too much talent going to waste and not enough opportunities to improve here – I’d love to give people that opportunity.”

If you are 16-25 and would like to volunteer, find opportunities on vinspired.com

Words by Becki Cole

Letters from the Lakeside, Part 3 ...

Here is the third in Becki Cole's series of blogs about the time she spent in Malawi at vinspired Lake of Stars back in October ...

I was made up to find out that Cantmixwontmixshldntmixdontmix, a group of 5 DJs that work extensively in the Liverpool area, are also charitably minded: Bobby spent 8 months volunteering here in Malawi, teaching in Nkata Bay, and Jazzbo was keen to re-visit and help in any way he could after playing Lake of Stars in 2007. As a group they’ve done plenty of charity work before, supporting C.A.L.M. and Oxjam.

They brought two suitcases full of pens to Malawi, and another one is on it’s way with a friend who’s coming to volunteer in January - they were excited about donating them to a nearby school project they regularly support. The lads are clued up about responsible donating, as Jay Jay said: “It’s so important for people to support sustainable projects, not to just give meaningless handouts.” Chris had seen where aid is vitally needed first hand - he’d been in Mangochi hospital as a patient himself! “It’s been a rollercoaster: absolutely amazing one minute, in hospital seeing the horrors the next. It’s a big eye-opener!”

Mr Paul, who played the Beach Bar on Thursday, Friday and Sunday nights, clearly loved the country and the festival and everything it stands for, choosing to come out here for 4 weeks to really get a feel for the place. He enthused: “I love the great music, the good people.”

Geoff from SixAM raved about Lucius Banda, Black Missionaries and Body, Mind and Soul, calling the festival “awe-inspiring. There’s so much talent here, on and off stage. You only need to look around for 10 seconds and you see something that challenges or excites you.” I can’t think of a better way to describe Malawi as a whole to be honest! He also played Lake of Stars last year and is so smitten with the country that he talked of moving here one day: he dreams of setting up a dance, drama and music school: “there’s too much talent going to waste and not enough opportunities to improve here – I’d love to give people that opportunity.”

If you are 16-25 and would like to volunteer, find opportunities on vinspired.com

Words by Becki Cole