Archive for January, 2011

Jan
26
Filed Under (Random Photo of the Week) by Rob on 26-01-2011

Travelling in style in Ségou.

These three-wheeler taxis (half motorbike, half pickup truck) are common in parts of Bamako and also in Ségou. It’s a fun way to travel and, unlike the tuk-tuks in Cotonou, can transport around eight people at once. Bit bumpy, but very well ventilated and cheap. Not recommended in torrential rain, though (been there, done that!)



Jan
24
Filed Under (Ethnomusicology, Malian culture) by Rob on 24-01-2011

Day 1:
Left Bamako nice and early. Made it to the Hotel Indépendance in Segou for breakfast. Unfortunately, between Bla and San, my back left tyre seriously burst. Even the spare needed some air adding (courtesy of guys with a hand pump in the next village). Made it to San, where it took five attempts to find a passable spare tyre.

Finally on the road again by 3:10pm, made it to Mac’s Refuge in Sevaré before dark.

Day 2
And, with my assistant/interpreter, I make the all-night boat journey from Mopti to Diafarabé on the Niger River. There were no seats on the boat, just an open hull. We sat (and slept) on the roof, which was a bit chilly and – as it was above the engines – a bit smokey too!

Day 3
Arrival in Diafarabé. As the boat broke down 4 times AND got stuck on a sandbank once, the journey took a total of almost 20 hours!! Did little more than rest for what was left of this day!

Day 4
Interviewing Bozo musicians, in a village not far from Diafarabé.

As night fell, I witnessed one of the most beautiful sunsets I’ve EVER seen, over the Niger river:

Day 5
To Dia and then Tenenkou. More interviews and recordings, trying to find out which song genres are ‘purely’ Bozo (and also sung in the Bozo language) and which ones could be easily used for educational purposes in the future.

Day 6
Journey back. Rather than the gruelling boat journey, we opt for eight hours on a motorbike instead (five off road):

There you go! Many more photos on my Facebook album of the trip: here.

And here’s what some of the Bozo folk songs sounded like:

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Jan
19
Filed Under (Random Photo of the Week) by Rob on 19-01-2011

A two-headed ostrich??

It also seems to have three legs! Taken at the Auberge de Dassa in Benin back in 2005. The ostriches have moved a few miles down the road now, but the auberge still serves ostrich meat, as far as I know. You could also buy (empty) ostrich eggs there.



Jan
12
Filed Under (General, Random Photo of the Week) by Rob on 12-01-2011

Crossing the Old Bridge

We only have two bridges in Bamako and this is the smaller, older one. During rush hour, it becomes one way (into town in the mornings and out in the evenings) which helps ease congestion to some extent. However, the Chinese are building a third bridge, almost 2km long, downstream and it should be finished in the next few months. Here are some sites showing the third bridge in various stages of construction: making the pillars, the finished pillars, putting on the horizontals.



Jan
05
Filed Under (Random Photo of the Week) by Rob on 05-01-2011

The Fish Ladies!

If you head down to the river in Badala Est, you’ll see these ladies, especially in the late afternoon, selling delicious fish straight from the Niger. Mmmm! One of the most common is known locally as capitaine which (I’ve only just learned) tranlates as Nile Perch in English.



Jan
03
Filed Under (Ethnomusicology) by Rob on 03-01-2011

It’s seems ages ago, but in September last year (ie 2010), I ran an etthhnomusicology workshop in the remote mountain village of Cankuzo, Burundi.

I could tell you more about it, but instead here’s a link to a page which does just that:

Rob’s Burundi Workshop article

Also, as a picture paints 1,000 words, you can also see some photos of The Royal Drummers of Burundi I worked with here and other Burundi photos (including the workshop) here.

Just thought I’d share that with you! Happy New Year!