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Dear banjo lovers
I send you this information just to update you what we are up to in part =
of the banjo communities concerning the origin of the banjo =
investigations. Over the last years we have found a lot of new =
challenging facts that have forced us several times to change our =
theories. One of the latest was the discovery of the Griot five string =
spike gourd lute Xhalam Gesere among the Wolofs in Senegambia unknown to =
scholars until that point.That instrument gave us a link to drone =
string banjos in the New World from the Griot side. The discovery of the =
Kolinko two string, plectrum played gourd lute still in use in the =
FRA-Fra ethnic group In Northern Ghana gave us a link to the very rich =
old plectrum played banjo traditions in the Carribien region something =
that still is very much alive.=20
I would also like to point out that there are plenty of space for any =
musicology students/interested to take up more research projects in West =
Africa. We will be more than happy to share all our new knowledge with =
any interested students to help out for an amateur or professional =
research re****t, article or dissertation.
The main activity for me just now is to make up all detailed plans for =
this years journeys to Africa. I am also writing my second banjo article =
for the Swedish Musical Instrument Museum=B4s annual booklet, now about =
the African predecessors to the banjo. My first article was about the =
banjo development in the New World. covering everything from the =
minstrel period to the folk music waves in the 1950-1960=B4s. And then I =
have an endless hours of video recordings from Africa to be edited and =
published on Youtube.
This month I have been able to conclude most of the plans for a very =
hectic 2008 with a lot of journeys mostly to North and West Africa. Here =
are all my scheduled activities.
1) Southern Morocco in March
From March 20th my wife Anneli and I will spend a week in the Atlas =
mountain region in Southern Morocco. That will hopefully allows me to =
look for the music cultures of the Berber/Tuaregs in a number of dessert =
towns. We will start in Agadir at the coast and then pay visits to =
following cities, Marrakech, Taroudant, Quarzazate and Zagora. This will =
be an interesting trip. I hope to video do***ent Lotar, Gimbrie, Gunbri =
and perhaps Sintir/Haj haj lute instruments and players .
2) Senegambia in July
This my fifth trip to Senegambia will be in conjunction with the =
Senegambian "Origin of the Banjo" Conference. For full program see below =
attachment.=20
8th of July Stockholm-Banjul
9th of July preparation for the trip in Banjul
10th of July. Early leave for Southern Senegal
10th to 18th of July the large round trip. Return to Banjul before the
opening ceremony.=20
19th of to 21st of July. Conference attendance from my side
22nd to 24th of July. Research activities in Gambia
24th-25th of July. Banjul-Stockholm
Hopefully a few, max three, of you will join me for an adventures tour =
of the southwest part of Senegal,
- from Banjul to Zuguinchor
- eventual visit to Jola villages Mlomp and Youto ( depending on time =
available)
- from Zuguinchor along road N6 to Kolda.=20
- from Kolda to Velingara and from there
- perhaps a visit to the Niokola Koba National park
- and then up to Thambacounda (crossroad for many ethnic groups in =
Senegal).=20
We will then return to Banjul along the Gambia river south road from =
Basse.=20
That will be a 600-800 km (500 miles) long trip depending on what we =
will find along the way and take about 7 days with a four wheel drive =
SUV.=20
The whole idea is to search for following instruments
a) The Griot Mandinka Kontingo (same as Xhalam, Huddo etc). According to =
many sources the Mandika seems to have abounded the lutes in favor for =
the Kora, Bolon and Bala. Still it should be very interesting to =
interview a Mandika Griot Kontingo player. They could have more to say =
about the origin of the Griot lute that probably has not yet been =
do***ented.
b) The Mandika folk harp Simbi. Are there any Simbi player (hunters) =
still around?
c) The Mandinka one string Molo player. Are there any players still =
around?
d) The extinct? Mandinka folk harp Kurango. It is a four string harp =
lute very close in construction to some of the folk lutes in the =
West African Savannah regions. But the Kurango is a semi-spike harp =
with just a slightly bowed neck. We have to find out if anyone =
know anything about this instrument. There is one rare sample left in =
the museum in Banjul.=20
e) All other akonting like instruments and harps we can find and =
do***ent.
f) Fiddle traditions among Fulas and Wolofs.
g) Search for the origin of the mystic Bania name.
This is of course an unrealistic large approach during such a short time =
but if I just could find and do***ent a few of the above points that =
should be a success.
3) Toscana, Italy in September
26th of September my wife and I will go for a one week wine and gourmet =
trip to Toscana in Italy. No banjos there but perhaps mandolins.
4) Mali in November
My wife and I have booked a two week adventur trip to Mali starting 5th =
of November. We will travel along the Niger river from Bamako up to =
Timbuktu with a two days visit to the Dogon people in the south mountain =
areas. We will visit and stay in following cities Bamako, Djenne, Mopti =
and Timbuktu. In Djenne the hotel owner is a Swedish girl Sophie Arin. I =
have sent her a mail asking for help to trace a number of instruments =
among the different ethnic groups. I am looking for Griot lutes from =
different ethnic groups, harps like Donce Nogoni and of course the Dogon =
Konou lute and the Ginggiru harp. I will also look out for the Diawara =
Kola Lemme gourd lute mention by Michael Coolen in his African lute =
articles. Also bowed lutes are of interest to do***ent.
5) On the planning stage for 2009 is a two week trip to South Africa =
during the spring and the very long overdue research trip to Northern =
Ghana and Burkina Faso during the fall.
6) For 2010 perhaps visits to Northern Senegal and/or Guinea and/or =
Sierra Leone can be carried out.
All my new do***entations will be published on Myspace and Youtube =
available for everyone.
Regards to you all and the very best for 2008.=20
Ulf Jagfors
Stockholm
African origin of the banjo links
www.myspace.com/akonting
http://www.myspace.com/danieljatta
www.myspace.com/banjoulf
http://www.arts.ufl.edu/cahre/senegambia.asp=20
www.oldtimeherald.org/akonting/index.html
www.shlomomusic.com/banjoancestors.htm
http://www.myspace.com/banjoroots
(recommended)
www.banjoroots.com
Video links
www.youtube.com/user/UlfJagfors
Banjo related lute instrument links
www.guyguitars.com/eng/index.html
www.atlasofpluckedinstruments.com/
American gourd banjo history
www.dhyatt.com/history.html
http://www.banjohistory.com/
African-American Old Time bands
http://www.myspace.com/carolinachocolatedrops
http://www.sankofastrings.com/ccd/index.html
http://www.sankofastrings.com/
____________________________________________________
The Senegambian Conference on African Origins of the New World Banjo=20
Mandinary, Gambia
July 18th to July 27th 2008
Presented by the
The Akonting Center for Senegambian Folk Music under the auspices of The
Chossan Center for Senegambian Culture (CCSC)
Tentative Program Schedule=20
Friday July 18th - Evening: at Kanifing
17:00 to 19:30 Welcome, introductions, and reception party.
Ms. Angella Colley, Minster of Culture and Tourism, The Kanifing =
Village
Head. Location: Kanifing at Daniel Jatta's family residence. All=20
conference participants are welcome.. Please R.S.V.P to
daniel.jatta@[EMAIL PROTECTED]
(or phone him at 0046-736175973 in Sweden) before
June 1 2008.
Saturday July 19th - All day: at the Center=20
9: 00 Prayers, Libation, and Welcome.
Ekona Jatta & Remi Jatta with Tony Jatta as interpreter and Pastor =
Muriel
Johnson Providence. (of Long Island). We will honor all of our known and
unknown ancestors taken as slaves from Africa to the New World, and =
those=20
who carried our traditions through time to us.
9:15 to 16:00 Talks and Presentations (tentatively scheduled). This =
time
slot includes a 15 minute snack break, and a 2 hour lunch break
History, Culture, Traditions And Tales Of The Jola Akonting. -- Ekona =
Jatta=20
& Remi Jatta with Tony Jatta as interpreter.
The Banjo: From Egypt to Jamaica. -- Ulf Jagfors
The Senegambia Akonting - A Living Ancestor To The New World Banjo. =
Daniel
Laemouahuma Jatta will compare the form, playing style, and social =
context=20
of the two instruments (banjo and akonting). Using both the modern =
American
banjo and the Jola akonting, Daniel Jatta will demonstrate the =
similarities
between the Stroke Style of the minstrel banjo playing and the O'teek =
style=20
of the Jola Akonting playing. The American Stroke Style is the style =
first
used in colonial America. The audience will be able to see and hear for
themselves, how the old music of the Akonting and the old music of the =
banjo=20
were similar.
Panel discussion on the Senegambian Lutes connections to the New World
banjo.
American Comparisons of Playing the Banjo and Playing the Akonting: =
Rhiannon
Giddons, performer.
16:00 to 17:00 Presentation of Awards and Recognitions.=20
Sagari Sambo will be honoured with the Master's Award. Accomplished =
students
from last year will receive certificates. Official recognition of the =
Jola
Akonting as one of the living ancestors of the Banjo will be given, =
followed=20
by questions and responses.
18:00 --Socializing and jamming.
Sunday July 20th - All day:
Bus trip to visit akonting cultural sites. Daniel Jatta's father, a Jola =
and
an akonting player, told stories that named the locations where Akonting =
players disappeared at night. The Legends say that ghostly devils took =
them
from these locations. Sites include e Kotu, Bond road, Sagnia, and =
Lalaba,
returning to Mandinary. All of these sites are close to James Island. A=20
visit of Jola rice fields will be included in the trip.
With a return at mid day back to the Festival site at Mandinary for =
lunch,
before continuing to other sites.
Monday July 21st - All day:
The FESTIVAL PROGRAM: Performances of ethnic music from several cultures =
followed by a jam session. This program will offer a unique op****tunity =
to
hear the Gambia's traditional players play their own instruments and =
their
own songs - Not filtered through interpretations. All accompanied as =
they=20
should be=97by drums, fiddle, singers and dancers. Skilled players from =
the
following folk ethnic groups will be represented.
=B7 Jola Akonting
=B7 Manjago Buchundu
=B7 Balanta Kisinta
=B7 Fula Hoddu
=B7 Wolof Xhalam=20
=B7 Bambara Ngoni
=B7 Jola Furakaff
=B7 Jola Bugarabu
=B7 Mandinka Sairuba
=B7 American Clawhammer Banjo
=B7 and many more
Tuesday, July 22 thru Thursday, July 25 - A three day trip (1 day =
travel,
second day visit sites, last day return travel):=20
Bus trip to Mlomp, Kanjanka and Alankeen (all in Casamance). In =
Casamance,
we will visit Mlomp, the homeland of the master Akonting players (Ekona =
and
Remi Jatta), Kanjanka, the home of the Akonting, Husuka (Kaginol), the=20
homeland of Daniel Jatta's father, and to Alankeen, where the Kanjanka =
rice
fields end.
Friday July 26 - On your own. Private shopping and sight-seeing of the
Gambia.
Saturday July 27 - Afternoon and evening: Thank You Party, program and=20
good-byes.
This will be at Therese's house. As in 2006, this party will be hosted =
by
the European and American participants.
Costs and Expenses (in addition to trans****tation and lodging):
=B7 Registration fee for this conference is $25. Any added =
donation=20
will be acknowledged as a gift to help pay workers and musicians in the
Gambia.
=B7 Bus trip to Casamance (July 22-25): The cost ($1000) will be =
split
among the participants, thus, approximately $120 (if there are 10 =
people).=20
This will include food, drink, car, tips, and lodging.
=B7 Bus trip to Akonting cultural sites (July 20): The $300
trans****tation cost for car rental, driver, and petrol will be split =
among
the participants. Thus it should be $30 for 10 people. However, buses =
hold=20
as many as 20 passengers.
=B7 "Thank You Party": In 2006 a splendid party for the Gambian =
hosts
and musicians cost the Americans and Europeans about $30 each. Some
contributed more; some contributed less, as their means permitted them.=20
=B7 There will be traditional Gambian food available at all times =
at
the Center at $7 per meal. Traditional Gambian snacks will also be =
served
and a donation of $2 would be very generous.
=B7 Most of the food that we are going to cook at the Center will =
be=20
from ecological farming.
For additional information contact members of the Akonting Center =
Swedish
Committee
Daniel Jatta
Phone: 011-0046-762-66-7539
Daniel.jatta@[EMAIL PROTECTED]
25
124 65 Bandhagen/ Stockholm, Sweden.
Joakim Nilsson
j.nilsson1@[EMAIL PROTECTED]
Friends of the Akonting Center (FOAC) is helping to collect money =
for=20
the convention, and physical improvements to the Akonting Center.
Donations to the Second International Conference on Origins of the New =
World
Banjo are welcome. It would be used for site preparation, and for =
paying=20
the groups of musicians and trans****ting them from the countryside.
Checks can be made out to
"Fractured Atlas" with "2nd Mind Music/Akt" in the memo field.
And mailed to
The Akonting Center Fund=20
c/o Eli Smith, Treas (who will send you a receipt)
280 Rector Pl. #8k
New York, NY, 10280
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<DIV>
<DIV>Dear banjo lovers</DIV>
<DIV> </DIV>
<DIV>I send you this information just to update you what we =
are up to=20
in part of the banjo communities concerning the origin of the =
banjo=20
investigations. Over the last years we have found a lot of new =
challenging facts=20
that have forced us several times to change our theories. One of the=20
latest was the discovery of the Griot five string spike gourd lute =
Xhalam=20
Gesere among the Wolofs in Senegambia unknown to scholars until that=20
point.That instrument gave us a link to drone string banjos in the =
New=20
World from the Griot side. The discovery of the Kolinko two string, =
plectrum played gourd lute still in use in the FRA-Fra ethnic group In =
Northern=20
Ghana gave us a link to the very rich old plectrum played =
banjo=20
traditions in the Carribien region something that still is very =
much=20
alive. </DIV>
<DIV> </DIV>
<DIV>I would also like to point out that there are plenty of space for =
any=20
musicology students/interested to take up more research projects in West =
Africa.=20
We will be more than happy to share all our new knowledge with any =
interested=20
students to help out for an amateur or professional research =
re****t,=20
article or dissertation.</DIV>
<DIV> </DIV>
<DIV>The main activity for me just now is to =
make up all=20
detailed plans for this years journeys to Africa. I am =
also=20
writing my second banjo article for the Swedish Musical=20
Instrument Museum=B4s annual booklet, now about the African predecessors =
to the=20
banjo. My first article was about the banjo development in the New =
World.=20
covering everything from the minstrel period to the folk music waves in =
the=20
1950-1960=B4s. And then I have an =
endless hours of=20
video recordings from Africa to be edited and published on =
Youtube.</DIV>
<DIV> </DIV>
<DIV>This month I have been able to conclude most of =
the=20
plans for a very hectic 2008 with a lot of journeys =
mostly to=20
North and West Africa. Here are all my scheduled =
activities.</DIV>
<DIV> </DIV>
<DIV>1) Southern Morocco in March</DIV>
<DIV>From March 20th my wife Anneli and I will spend a week in the =
Atlas=20
mountain region in Southern Morocco. That will hopefully allows me=20
to look for the music cultures of the Berber/Tuaregs in a =
number=20
of dessert towns. We will start in Agadir at the coast and =
then pay=20
visits to following cities, Marrakech, Taroudant, Quarzazate and Zagora. =
This=20
will be an interesting trip. I hope to video do***ent Lotar, Gimbrie,=20
Gunbri and perhaps Sintir/Haj haj lute instruments and players =
..</DIV>
<DIV> </DIV>
<DIV>2) Senegambia in July</DIV>
<DIV>This my fifth trip to Senegambia will be in conjunction with =
the=20
Senegambian "Origin of the Banjo" Conference. For full program see below =
attachment. </DIV>
<DIV> </DIV>
<DIV>8th of July Stockholm-Banjul<BR>9th of July preparation for the =
trip in=20
Banjul<BR>10th of July. Early leave for Southern Senegal<BR>10th to 18th =
of July=20
the large round trip. Return to Banjul before the<BR>opening ceremony. =
<BR>19th=20
of to 21st of July. Conference attendance from my side<BR>22nd to 24th =
of July.=20
Research activities in Gambia<BR>24th-25th of July.=20
Banjul-Stockholm<BR></DIV>
<DIV>
<DIV>Hopefully a few, max three, of you will join me for an=20
adventures tour of the southwest part of Senegal,</DIV>
<DIV>- from Banjul to Zuguinchor</DIV>
<DIV>- eventual visit to Jola villages Mlomp and Youto ( depending on =
time=20
available)</DIV>
<DIV>- from Zuguinchor along road N6 to Kolda. </DIV>
<DIV>- from Kolda to Velingara and from there</DIV>
<DIV>- perhaps a visit to the Niokola Koba National park</DIV>
<DIV>- and then up to Thambacounda (crossroad for many ethnic =
groups=20
in Senegal). </DIV>
<DIV>We will then return to Banjul along the Gambia river =
south road=20
from Basse. </DIV>
<DIV> </DIV>
<DIV>That will be a 600-800 km (500 miles) long trip depending on=20
what we will find along the way and take about 7 days with a =
four=20
wheel drive SUV. </DIV>
<DIV> </DIV>
<DIV>The whole idea is to search for following instruments</DIV>
<DIV>
<DIV>a) The Griot Mandinka Kontingo (same as Xhalam, Huddo etc). =
According to=20
many sources the Mandika seems to have abounded the lutes in favor =
for the=20
Kora, Bolon and Bala. Still it should be very interesting to =
interview a=20
Mandika Griot Kontingo player. They could have more to say about =
the origin=20
of the Griot lute that probably has not yet=20
been do***ented.</DIV>
<DIV>b) The Mandika folk harp Simbi. Are there any Simbi player =
(hunters) still=20
around?</DIV>
<DIV>c) The Mandinka one string Molo player. Are there any players still =
around?</DIV>
<DIV>d) The extinct? Mandinka folk harp Kurango. It is a four =
string harp=20
lute very close in construction =
to some of=20
the folk lutes in the West African Savannah regions. But=20
the Kurango is a semi-spike harp with just a slightly =
bowed=20
neck. We have to find out if anyone =
know=20
anything about this instrument. There is one rare sample left in the =
museum=20
in Banjul. </DIV>
<DIV>e) All other akonting like instruments and harps we can find and=20
do***ent.</DIV>
<DIV>f) Fiddle traditions among Fulas and Wolofs.</DIV>
<DIV>g) Search for the origin of the mystic Bania name.</DIV>
<DIV> </DIV>
<DIV>This is of course an unrealistic large approach during such a short =
time=20
but if I just could find and do***ent a few of the above points that =
should be a=20
success.</DIV>
<DIV> </DIV></DIV></DIV>
<DIV>3) Toscana, Italy in September</DIV>
<DIV>26th of September my wife and I will go for a one week wine =
and=20
gourmet trip to Toscana in Italy. No banjos there but perhaps=20
mandolins.</DIV>
<DIV> </DIV>
<DIV>4) Mali in November</DIV>
<DIV>My wife and I have booked a two week adventur trip =
to=20
Mali starting 5th of November. We will travel along the Niger =
river=20
from Bamako up to Timbuktu with a two days visit to the Dogon =
people=20
in the south mountain areas. We will visit and stay in following=20
cities Bamako, Djenne, Mopti and Timbuktu. In Djenne the =
hotel owner=20
is a Swedish girl Sophie Arin. I have sent =
her a mail asking for=20
help to trace a number of instruments among the different ethnic groups. =
I=20
am looking for Griot lutes from different ethnic groups, =
harps=20
like Donce Nogoni and of course the Dogon Konou lute and the =
Ginggiru harp.=20
I will also look out for the Diawara Kola Lemme gourd =
lute=20
mention by Michael Coolen in his African lute articles. Also bowed lutes =
are of=20
interest to do***ent.</DIV>
<DIV> </DIV>
<DIV>5) On the planning stage for 2009 is a two week trip to South =
Africa during=20
the spring and the very long overdue research trip to Northern Ghana and =
Burkina=20
Faso during the fall.</DIV>
<DIV> </DIV>
<DIV>6) For 2010 perhaps visits to Northern Senegal and/or Guinea =
and/or=20
Sierra Leone can be carried out.</DIV>
<DIV> </DIV>
<DIV>All my new do***entations will be published on Myspace =
and=20
Youtube available for everyone.</DIV>
<DIV> </DIV>
<DIV>Regards to you all and the very best for 2008. </DIV>
<DIV> </DIV>
<DIV>Ulf Jagfors</DIV>
<DIV>Stockholm</DIV>
<DIV> </DIV>
<DIV>
<DIV><FONT face=3DArial size=3D2><FONT face=3DArial =
size=3D2><STRONG><FONT=20
size=3D3>African origin of the banjo links</FONT></STRONG></DIV>
<DIV>
<DIV>
<DIV>
<DIV><A=20
href=3D"http://www.myspace.com/akonting">www.myspace.com/akonting</A></DI=
V></DIV>
<DIV><A=20
href=3D"http://www.myspace.com/danieljatta">http://www.myspace.com/daniel=
jatta</A></DIV>
<DIV><FONT face=3DArial size=3D2><FONT face=3D"Times New Roman" =
size=3D3><A=20
href=3D"http://www.myspace.com/banjoulf">www.</FONT>myspace.com/banjoulf<=
/A></FONT></DIV>
<DIV><A href=3D"http://www.arts.ufl.edu/cahre/senegambia.asp"><FONT=20
color=3D#0000ff>http://www.arts.ufl.edu/cahre/senegambia.asp</FONT></A><F=
ONT=20
color=3D#0000ff> </FONT></DIV>
<DIV><A href=3D"http://www.oldtimeherald.org/akonting/index.html"><FONT=20
face=3D"Times New Roman"=20
size=3D3>www.oldtimeherald.org/akonting/index.html</FONT></A><BR><A=20
href=3D"http://www.shlomomusic.com/banjoancestors.htm"><FONT=20
face=3D"Times New Roman"=20
size=3D3>www.shlomomusic.com/banjoancestors.htm</FONT></A></DIV>
<DIV><FONT size=3D3><A=20
href=3D"http://www.myspace.com/banjoroots"><STRONG>http://www.myspace.com=
/banjoroots</STRONG></A> (recommended)</FONT></DIV>
<DIV><FONT size=3D3><A=20
href=3D"http://www.banjoroots.com/">www.banjoroots.com</A></FONT></DIV>
<DIV><STRONG><FONT size=3D3>Video links</FONT></STRONG></DIV>
<DIV>
<DIV><A=20
href=3D"http://www.youtube.com/user/UlfJagfors">www.youtube.com/user/UlfJ=
agfors</A></A></DIV></DIV>
<DIV><FONT face=3DArial size=3D2><STRONG><FONT size=3D3>Banjo related =
lute instrument=20
links<BR></FONT></STRONG><A=20
href=3D"http://www.guyguitars.com/eng/index.html"><FONT
face=3D"Times =
New Roman"=20
size=3D3>www.guyguitars.com/eng/index.html</FONT></A><BR><A=20
href=3D"http://www.atlasofpluckedinstruments.com/"><FONT
face=3D"Times =
New Roman"=20
size=3D3>www.atlasofpluckedinstruments.com/</FONT></A></FONT></DIV>
<DIV><FONT face=3DArial size=3D2><STRONG><FONT size=3D3>American gourd =
banjo=20
history<BR></FONT></STRONG><A =
href=3D"http://www.dhyatt.com/history.html"><FONT=20
face=3D"Times New Roman"=20
size=3D3>www.dhyatt.com/history.html</FONT></A></DIV></FONT></FONT></DIV>=
</FONT></DIV>
<DIV><FONT size=3D2><A=20
href=3D"http://www.banjohistory.com/">http://www.banjohistory.com/</A></F=
ONT></DIV>
<DIV><STRONG>African-American Old Time bands</STRONG></DIV>
<DIV><A href=3D"http://www.myspace.com/carolinachocolatedrops"><FONT
=
color=3D#0000ff=20
size=3D2>http://www.myspace.com/carolinachocolatedrops</FONT></A></DIV>
<DIV><FONT size=3D2><A=20
href=3D"http://www.sankofastrings.com/ccd/index.html">http://www.sankofas=
trings.com/ccd/index.html</A></FONT></DIV>
<DIV><FONT size=3D2><A=20
href=3D"http://www.sankofastrings.com/">http://www.sankofastrings.com/</A=
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<DIV>The Senegambian Conference on African Origins of the New World =
Banjo=20
<BR>Mandinary, Gambia<BR>July 18th to July 27th 2008<BR>Presented by =
the<BR>The=20
Akonting Center for Senegambian Folk Music under the auspices of =
The<BR>Chossan=20
Center for Senegambian Culture (CCSC)<BR><BR>Tentative Program Schedule=20
<BR><BR>Friday July 18th - Evening: at Kanifing<BR><BR>17:00 to 19:30 =
=20
Welcome, introductions, and reception party.<BR>Ms. Angella =
Colley,=20
Minster of Culture and Tourism, The Kanifing Village<BR>Head.=20
Location: Kanifing at Daniel Jatta's family residence. All=20
<BR>conference participants are welcome.. Please R.S.V.P to<BR><A=20
href=3D"mailto:daniel.jatta@[EMAIL PROTECTED]
">daniel.jatta@[EMAIL PROTECTED]
> (or =
phone him at=20
0046-736175973 in Sweden) before<BR>June 1 2008.<BR><BR>Saturday July =
19th - All=20
day: at the Center <BR><BR>9: 00 Prayers, Libation, and =
Welcome.<BR>Ekona Jatta=20
& Remi Jatta with Tony Jatta as interpreter and Pastor =
Muriel<BR>Johnson=20
Providence. (of Long Island). We will honor all of our known =
and<BR>unknown=20
ancestors taken as slaves from Africa to the New World, and those =
<BR>who=20
carried our traditions through time to us.<BR><BR>9:15 to 16:00 =
Talks and=20
Presentations (tentatively scheduled). This time<BR>slot includes a 15 =
minute=20
snack break, and a 2 hour lunch break<BR><BR>History, Culture, =
Traditions And=20
Tales Of The Jola Akonting. -- Ekona Jatta <BR>& Remi Jatta with =
Tony Jatta=20
as interpreter.<BR>The Banjo: From Egypt to Jamaica. -- Ulf =
Jagfors<BR>The=20
Senegambia Akonting - A Living Ancestor To The New World Banjo.=20
Daniel<BR>Laemouahuma Jatta will compare the form, playing style, and =
social=20
context <BR>of the two instruments (banjo and akonting). Using both the =
modern=20
American<BR>banjo and the Jola akonting, Daniel Jatta will demonstrate =
the=20
similarities<BR>between the Stroke Style of the minstrel banjo playing =
and the=20
O'teek style <BR>of the Jola Akonting playing. The American Stroke Style =
is the=20
style first<BR>used in colonial America. The audience will be able to =
see and=20
hear for<BR>themselves, how the old music of the Akonting and the old =
music of=20
the banjo <BR>were similar.<BR>Panel discussion on the Senegambian Lutes =
connections to the New World<BR>banjo.<BR>American Comparisons of =
Playing the=20
Banjo and Playing the Akonting: Rhiannon<BR>Giddons, =
performer.<BR><BR>16:00 to=20
17:00 Presentation of Awards and Recognitions. <BR>Sagari =
Sambo=20
will be honoured with the Master's Award. Accomplished students<BR>from =
last=20
year will receive certificates. Official recognition of the =
Jola<BR>Akonting as=20
one of the living ancestors of the Banjo will be given, followed <BR>by=20
questions and responses.<BR><BR>18:00 --Socializing and =
jamming.<BR><BR>Sunday=20
July 20th - All day:<BR>Bus trip to visit akonting cultural sites. =
Daniel=20
Jatta's father, a Jola and<BR>an akonting player, told stories that =
named the=20
locations where Akonting <BR>players disappeared at night. The Legends =
say that=20
ghostly devils took them<BR>from these locations. Sites include e Kotu, =
Bond=20
road, Sagnia, and Lalaba,<BR>returning to Mandinary. All of these sites =
are=20
close to James Island. A <BR>visit of Jola rice fields will be included =
in the=20
trip.<BR>With a return at mid day back to the Festival site at Mandinary =
for=20
lunch,<BR>before continuing to other sites.<BR><BR>Monday July 21st - =
All=20
day:<BR>The FESTIVAL PROGRAM: Performances of ethnic music from several =
cultures=20
<BR>followed by a jam session. This program will offer a unique =
op****tunity=20
to<BR>hear the Gambia's traditional players play their own instruments =
and=20
their<BR>own songs - Not filtered through interpretations. All =
accompanied as=20
they <BR>should be=97by drums, fiddle, singers and dancers. Skilled =
players from=20
the<BR>following folk ethnic groups will be represented.<BR>=B7 Jola =
Akonting<BR>=B7=20
Manjago Buchundu<BR>=B7 Balanta Kisinta<BR>=B7 Fula Hoddu<BR>=B7 Wolof =
Xhalam=20
<BR> =B7 Bambara Ngoni<BR>=B7 Jola Furakaff<BR>=B7 Jola =
Bugarabu<BR>=B7 Mandinka=20
Sairuba<BR>=B7 American Clawhammer Banjo<BR>=B7 and many =
more<BR><BR>Tuesday, July=20
22 thru Thursday, July 25 - A three day trip (1 day travel,<BR>second =
day visit=20
sites, last day return travel): <BR>Bus trip to Mlomp, Kanjanka and =
Alankeen=20
(all in Casamance). In Casamance,<BR>we will visit Mlomp, the homeland =
of the=20
master Akonting players (Ekona and<BR>Remi Jatta), Kanjanka, the home of =
the=20
Akonting, Husuka (Kaginol), the <BR>homeland of Daniel Jatta's father, =
and to=20
Alankeen, where the Kanjanka rice<BR>fields end.<BR><BR>Friday July 26 - =
On your=20
own. Private shopping and sight-seeing of =
the<BR>Gambia.<BR><BR>Saturday=20
July 27 - Afternoon and evening: Thank You Party, program and=20
<BR>good-byes.<BR>This will be at Therese's house. As in 2006, =
this party=20
will be hosted by<BR>the European and American =
participants.<BR><BR>Costs and=20
Expenses (in addition to trans****tation and lodging):<BR>=B7 =
=20
Registration fee for this conference is $25. Any added =
donation=20
<BR>will be acknowledged as a gift to help pay workers and musicians in=20
the<BR>Gambia.<BR>=B7 Bus trip to Casamance =
(July=20
22-25): The cost ($1000) will be split<BR>among the participants, thus,=20
approximately $120 (if there are 10 people). <BR>This will include food, =
drink,=20
car, tips, and lodging.<BR>=B7 Bus trip to =
Akonting=20
cultural sites (July 20): The $300<BR>trans****tation cost for car =
rental,=20
driver, and petrol will be split among<BR>the participants. Thus it =
should be=20
$30 for 10 people. However, buses hold <BR>as many as 20 =
passengers.<BR>=B7 =20
"Thank You Party": In 2006 a splendid party for the =
Gambian=20
hosts<BR>and musicians cost the Americans and Europeans about $30 each.=20
Some<BR>contributed more; some contributed less, as their means =
permitted them.=20
<BR>=B7 There will be traditional Gambian =
food=20
available at all times at<BR>the Center at $7 per meal. Traditional =
Gambian=20
snacks will also be served<BR>and a donation of $2 would be very =
generous.<BR>=B7=20
Most of the food that we are going to cook at =
the=20
Center will be <BR>from ecological farming.<BR><BR>For additional =
information=20
contact members of the Akonting Center Swedish<BR>Committee<BR>Daniel=20
Jatta<BR>Phone: 011-0046-762-66-7539<BR><A=20
href=3D"mailto:Daniel.jatta@[EMAIL PROTECTED]
">Daniel.jatta@[EMAIL PROTECTED]
><BR>Skollertagatan 25<BR>124 65 Bandhagen/ Stockholm,=20
Sweden.<BR> Joakim Nilsson<BR><A=20
href=3D"mailto:j.nilsson1@[EMAIL PROTECTED]
">j.nilsson1@[EMAIL PROTECTED]
><BR><BR>The =
Friends=20
of the Akonting Center (FOAC) is helping to collect money for <BR>the=20
convention, and physical improvements to the Akonting =
Center.<BR>Donations to=20
the Second International Conference on Origins of the New World<BR>Banjo =
are welcome. It would be used for site preparation, and for paying =
<BR>the=20
groups of musicians and trans****ting them from the =
countryside.<BR></DIV>
<DIV>Checks can be made out to<BR>"Fractured Atlas" with "2nd Mind =
Music/Akt" in the memo field.<BR>And mailed to<BR>The Akonting Center =
Fund=20
<BR>c/o Eli Smith, Treas (who will send you a receipt)<BR>280 Rector Pl. =
#8k<BR>New York, NY, 10280<BR><BR><BR></DIV></DIV>
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