Emancipation Day Celebrations Feature Master African Drummer
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Emancipation Day Celebrations Feature Master African Drummer |
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Master traditional drummer from Senegal, West Africa, Bou Mohammed Ndiaye will perform in the Laborie Village Square this Sunday, August 1, 2004, from 6:00 p.m. to 10:00 p.m., as part of Emancipation Day celebrations, which will involve musical performances, speeches and other cultural presentations.
The activities are being organised by Labowi Promotions, with support from the Cultural Development Foundation and the Alliance Française.
Mr. Ndiaye’s performance will be the highlight of the evening. He is a member of one of the most prominent drumming families in West Africa, where the art of drumming and story-telling is passed on from generation to generation, and where only a few families are recognised as performers.
Initiated to music by his father, a guitarist and singer, and his mother, a singer and dancer, Mr Ndiaye has performed internationally, sharing the scene with some of the world’s greatest musicians, including Stevie Wonder, Miles Davis, the Rolling Stones and Stanley Clarke.
Music in general, and drumming in particular are part of everyday life in Senegal, and each ethnic group has specific styles and specific musical instruments. One of the most common drums used in Senegal is the Djembé, which comes from the Mandingo land, but is now used all over West Africa. In his performance on Sunday, master drummer, Bou Ndiaye will present the various drums that are used in his country, and illustrate some of the main rhythms.
The theme of this year’s Emancipation Day in Laborie is “Celebrating All Freedoms”. It has been chosen to commemorate the abolition of slavery, but also to relate this commemoration to the liberation of all citizens and to the need to preserve freedom in all aspects of modern life.
Labowi Promotions has been commemorating Emancipation Day for the past three years. Last year, the group hosted performances of the popular musical Sarafina. In 2002, it organised a panel discussion on the theme “1834-2002: Rights and Freedom. What have we gained? What do we still need to gain?” |
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