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 photo Lara by Janet Gilmour |
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In February of 2003 Lara was able to return to Guinea and reunite with her friends and teachers in Conakry. This time she was able to bring along her percussion partner in crime, Yael Shacham. Through friends, family and community sponsors they raised over $4,000 towards this amazing journey.  Lara with M'Bemba Bangoura's son, Cheike, Guinea, 2/03. Photo Yael Shacham  Yael in dance class, Guinea, 2/03. Photo Kathy Henkel A handful of Yael's beautiful photos were used for the promotional website for Wamali Percussione de Guinee take a look click here More magical musings and photos to come from this trip! Africa Sponsor List click here Full scoop including original fundraising letter click here  clockwise from left: Yadi, YaYa, Mohammed, Oumou, Kadiatou, M'Balou, and an unknown friend, Guinea, 2/03. Photo Yael Shacham 2001 Journal below Snapshots & Images from Guinea, West Africa 2/01 In memory of master drummer, Gbanworo Keita, of Les Ballets Africain |
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| 3.13.2001 Being in Guinea reminded me, with a force not unlike that of falling in love, why I as drawn to my instrument in the first place. 3.4.2001 I'm stateside again (flew into a grey and rainy JFK airport on Sunday Feb 25), safe and sound, juiced and de-pulped, ready to turn right around and go back to Guinea! Have fallen in love with her and all her treasures that's for sure. Due to logisitics I wasn't able to send reports as often as I would have liked, but I'll post some thoughts and ramblings here as I process what was easily one of the most amazing experiences of my life thus far. As I compose this, I'm watching the much anticipated (and hyped) Noreaster gain momentum and there is no doubt I'm not Africa anymore! It's taken about a week for my chemistry to semi re-adjust. I'm certainly missing waking to the roosters and Nongo neighborhood kids lovely chatter, as well as my familiar coccoon of mosquito netting (given to me with psychic forsight a few years back by drumming sister Su Hunt). Tried for a few days to re-create my Nongo breakfast ritual of Nescafe and peanut butter & bananas on lebanese bread but somehow it's just not the same. Maybe it's the pasturized milk. Maybe it's Jersey. I miss my journey compadres from the states big time; Acacia, Marc NY, Marc Chicago, Tim (aka bonbonfere), Jordan (aka Le professouer), BJ & Cameron, Ray & Take, Gwendolyn, Viveene who came with her daughter - Shaleeka, and her son - Camara, N'zingeh, and Neil (aka Bengali, who was there working on a documentary about M'bemba). Any extended period of time in a workshop situation can be challenging, let alone in a third world country, and I must tell you this group was amazing and not in the least a chore to be around. My goodbyes to my new friends in Guinea upon our departure on Feb 24 were some of the hardest I've experienced in my life. They welcomed us with grace and ease into their family, interacted with us warmly and sincerely, and supported us tremendously in each of our personal endeavors drawing from their own culture (which they must wonder about!). These were some of the bravest, most hard working and joyful folks I've ever met and I'll keep them and their lifestyle in mind when things in my own life become daunting. Our teachers were the icing on the cake, Laurent Camara & Gbanworo Keita (master drummers from Les Ballets Africaines) and Nima Camara & Mariama Bangoura (master dancers from Les Ballets Africains). We were fortunate to sit in on a rehearsal for the Ballet which was facinating and awe inspiring - sweating in America and sweating in Africa are two very different things! As is drumming/dancing these rhythms for that matter. I experienced this music on an entirely different level, and will be thankful for the experience for years to come. 2.19.2001 Greetings from Conakry, Guinea! Journey so fars is amazing and awe inspiring. Staying in a beautiful house in Nongo, drummming and dancing daily with Laurent Camara & Gbanworo Keita, master drummers from Les Ballets Africains. Our dance teachers, Nima Camara & Mariama Bangoura, also from the ballet, are full of fire and gorgeous attitude. We went to two Doundounbas (traditional drum and dance party where drummers and dancers get to show their stuff), one in the city and one at the home of dancer Youssouf Koumbassa. I'm particularly inspired by the contemporary adaptations of the traditional dances, the "new style" beautifully embodied by Youssouf's son (I think his name is Sidiki). We also went on an outing to Kindia, 2 hour drive through countryside and over a mountain, to indigo fabric markets. Saw the most wonderous waterfall. The people here are warm, vibrant, open and loving, I want to learn to speak so-so more fluently, but my high school French helps alot. A smile crosses cultures of course.There is beauty everywhere amongst the poverty, the children shine like stars (tumbi), fooze ball, chickens and goats in the streets, no traffic lights, just steady streaming flow of european cars and magbanas (mini-bus taxis). More to come, with luck my photos, drumming hands and dancing feet will capture some of the essence of this incredible culture. 2.1.2001 So what's a white gyrl from Jersey doin' going to Guinea West Africa? Propelled forward by the loss of love and the loss of my Nana, I made the decision to go on this trip 5 months ago. I've been a student a of West African drum and dance in this fine country, USA, for 10 years, time to drink from the well and get my ass kicked! I'l be traveling with a small group of students and longtime djembe teacher, M'Bemba Bangoura, to the city of Conakry where he is from. We'll be drumming and dancing every day for 3 weeks! With any luck I'll have this page updated with a few tales from my trip whilst I'm away - check back in. For info about M'Bemba and the trip check out www.magbana.com ife, ;) La |
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