46 THE BEAT VOL. 22 #2, 2003 ONE OF THE GREATEST ARTISTS FROM KENYA HAS CREATED A NEW WORLD CLASS CD! Rootsganza establishes Jabali Afrika as one of the best African world music artists of today. Blending their own unique style, these original compositions accompanied by soaring vocals, moving harmonies and traditional African rhythms played on a wide variety of instruments come alive! This multi-faceted group has it’s own unique mixture of fusion and African rhythms. Rootsganza is “ROOTSMUSIC”... passionate and stirring. Talented dancing and chorgegraphy with stunning traditional African tribal costumes brings an experience not to be missed! ROOTSGANZA IN STORES MARCH 26, 2003 NORTH AMERICAN TOUR 2003. CHECK WEBSITE FOR DATES NEAR YOU. APPEARING AT SOB’S IN APRIL. www.jabaliafrika.com www.convergerecords.com graceful and seductive part. The men undulate across the stage in rich- ly exotic garb and outrageous headpieces or turbans, their arms tracing elegant shapes in the desert air. The women, in jeweled “crowns” cov- ered by large veils, sway and wave their arms in response. A space was cleared in the sand and the audience was invited to dance along. Great fun, and everyone looks good performing takamba. The festival’s finale was by Ali Farka Touré, the area’s most beloved musical ambassador. The time spent assembling his musicians and tun- ing instruments seemed frustratingly slow, since departure times had been so carefully orchestrated. But once the music began, all was for- given. Ali Farka was accompanied by artists from several other festival bands, notably Afel Bocoum, his close neighbor in Niafunke, on guitar and vocals. To watch Ali Farka’s guitar technique was a revelation. He seemed barely to brush his fingers across the strings of his acoustic instrument, but the sound that emerged was voluptuous, deliberate yet seemingly effortless. As he played, the stage gradually filled with dancers until the musicians were nearly obscured. By the time the last note evaporated into the night, Ali Farka was gone. It was time to emerge from a three-day fantasy and begin the mun- dane rituals of departure. A procession of white 4x4s carried weary but sated adventurers off to the real world. If all goes well, many of us will be back next year for the fourth edition. Susan Cummings Maroni is a freelance writer based in Dakar, Senegal. Thanks to Sean Barlow, producer of “Afropop Worldwide,” and Banning Eyre, Webmaster of afropop.org , for contributing photos for this story. FESTIVAL IN THE DESERT • ESSAKANE, MALI (CONTINUED FROM PAGE 45) PHOTO BY SEAN BARLOW The lavishly attired Touaregs were a constant, friendly presence, astride their slim, gentle camels. desert.q 3/13/03 4:24 PM Page 6

FESTIVAL IN THE DESERT • ESSAKANE, MALI (CONTINUED FROM … · 2017. 10. 30. · Ali Farka was accompanied by artists from several other festival bands, notably Afel Bocoum, his

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Page 1: FESTIVAL IN THE DESERT • ESSAKANE, MALI (CONTINUED FROM … · 2017. 10. 30. · Ali Farka was accompanied by artists from several other festival bands, notably Afel Bocoum, his

46 THE BEAT VOL. 22 #2, 2003

ONE OF THE GREATEST ARTISTS FROM KENYA HAS CREATED A NEW WORLD CLASS CD!Rootsganza establishes Jabali Afrika as one of the best African worldmusic artists of today. Blending their own unique style, these originalcompositions accompanied by soaring vocals, moving harmonies andtraditional African rhythms played on a wide variety of instrumentscome alive!

This multi-faceted group has it’s own unique mixture of fusion and Africanrhythms. Rootsganza is “ROOTSMUSIC”... passionate and stirring.

Talented dancing and chorgegraphy with stunning traditional Africantribal costumes brings an experience not to be missed!

ROOTSGANZA IN STORES MARCH 26, 2003NORTH AMERICAN TOUR 2003. CHECK WEBSITE FOR DATES NEAR YOU.APPEARING AT SOB’S IN APRIL.

www.jabaliafrika.com www.convergerecords.com

graceful and seductive part. The men undulate across the stage in rich-ly exotic garb and outrageous headpieces or turbans, their arms tracingelegant shapes in the desert air. The women, in jeweled “crowns” cov-ered by large veils, sway and wave their arms in response. A space wascleared in the sand and the audience was invited to dance along. Greatfun, and everyone looks good performing takamba.

The festival’s finale was by Ali Farka Touré, the area’s most belovedmusical ambassador. The time spent assembling his musicians and tun-ing instruments seemed frustratingly slow, since departure times hadbeen so carefully orchestrated. But once the music began, all was for-given. Ali Farka was accompanied by artists from several other festivalbands, notably Afel Bocoum, his close neighbor in Niafunke, on guitarand vocals. To watch Ali Farka’s guitar technique was a revelation. He

seemed barely to brush his fingers across the strings of his acousticinstrument, but the sound that emerged was voluptuous, deliberate yetseemingly effortless. As he played, the stage gradually filled withdancers until the musicians were nearly obscured. By the time the lastnote evaporated into the night, Ali Farka was gone.

It was time to emerge from a three-day fantasy and begin the mun-dane rituals of departure. A procession of white 4x4s carried weary butsated adventurers off to the real world. If all goes well, many of us will beback next year for the fourth edition.

Susan Cummings Maroni is a freelance writer based in Dakar, Senegal.Thanks to Sean Barlow, producer of “Afropop Worldwide,” and BanningEyre, Webmaster of afropop.org , for contributing photos for this story.

FESTIVAL IN THE DESERT • E S S A K A N E , M A L I (CONTINUED FROM PAGE 45)P

TO B

N B

LOW

The lavishly attiredTouaregs were a constant,friendly presence, astridetheir slim, gentle camels.

desert.q 3/13/03 4:24 PM Page 6