Day 13 & 14 – 7/1/13 & 8/1/13 – Iya Sako Day 3 & 4 The first note played on the djembe after two days of rest is always the most painful. After that everything seems possible. I woke up early enough to do some yoga before breakfast. I reached the breakfast area just as […]
Day 15 9/1/13 last day with Iya Sako I woke up with sore hands and a sore body (back, neck and all) because every class with Iya Sako is like playing a two hour gig. Going by this calculation we had played six gigs in three days. We start and play almost non-stop for tho […]
Day 16 & 17 10/1/13 & 11/1/13 – Start of Mamady Advanced level We have now reached the last week of our workshop. Today we were to drum with Mamady once again. We played the rhythm Dibon this morning. This is a Malinke rhythm from Guinea. Dibon is a rare bird that always travels in a […]
Day 20 & 21 14/1/13 & 15/1/13 – advanced class days with Mamady 2 & 3 (Stepping it up) I woke up for our last week of drumming realizing that I am still feeling quite sick. I did not have fever but I could feel the chest and throat congestion. I was not the only […]
Day 22 & 23 16/1/13 & 17/1/13 – last two days of class with Mamady I woke up with the thought, ‘After today, only one more day to go’. Currently we were voyaging on planet Mamady; learning more and more of his creations. Unlike many a traditional rhythm today whose true origin is still unknown, […]
Day 24 & 25 18/1/13 & 19/1/13 – workshop hangover days in Abene I was a little sad the next morning because I would have to say goodbye to almost all of the people who, over the last 23 days, have become family. Tannis, Justine, Coral, Owen and I were the last crusaders who would […]
Day 26 & 27 20/1/13 & 21/1/13 – departure to Ziguinchor and Dakar. Today onward, starts the travel back home. I travel in small steps, gradually. My packing was almost done. I left all the clothes that I came with, with Coral to be given to this Leprosy community in Ziguinchor. That way, things that I […]
Day 28 & 29 22/1/13 & 23/1/13 – flight back home I’m not very good with goodbye’s and even though it was a quick one with Tannis, I’d like to thank her from the bottom of my heart for being an absolutely wonderful co-traveler. Anyone who can tolerate me has my respect and Tannis, you take […]
This was the first time my research work would take me to another country… Exciting. confusing…? Pfft!! Not at all…. The one person instrumental in this process is Dr. Stephen Clift. His encouragement, patience and support has been extraordinary and it was great to finally get a chance to meet him. I landed in Heathrow […]
The Largest Drum Circle in the World by Taal Inc. (Pune/India) On the brink of this beautiful event in 2013 I’d like to revisit the spirit of the largest drum circle in the world from the yeah before last. 2011: It is a world-wide campaign where people all over, drumming enthusiasts from every corner of […]
