I apologize for the belated blog. The stories and experiences are accumulating so fast it will be impossible for me to keep up with all the details but here is a glimpse into the first week and a half...
It is Sunday night and a large group of people dressed in white are across from the Kusun Centre (where we are staying) on a blotched soccer pitch singing prayers, dancing and playing the tambourine - Sunday night prayers.
Music is everywhere and it never stops. Songs and the incredible African rhythms are all around you all the time. It is a huge part of their culture - it is how they live.
Today we learned some African songs and all of them are about people in various villages. Apparently, people don't go behind the backs of others and gossip till about them till their blue in the face but rather, create songs in three part harmony about them and sing it for the whole village to hear!
We were given a performance last night by two Gonje players (a violin with one string in the shape of a guitar - the body being made from a hollowed out gourd) and the whole family is known by the name of the instrument. Now that is taking your craft seriously. I've been contemplating changing my name to either Voice or Guitar but no verdict yet on whether I'll fill out the papers and upset my family.
Last Sunday afternoon we went to a welcoming ceremony conducted by the fetish priest of the village. To explain the whole ceremony would take too long, and I'm told it is bad kharma to divulge too much about the tradition so I don't think I'll post it on an internet blog for the whole world to see - that has to be the ultimate in bad Kharma.
The lessons are going well. I am constantly stimulated, even when I go to bed - whether the latter be from the mosquito bites or the crazy dreams the doxecycline is giving me, it's a bit of a toss up.
Everybody on the tour is amazing. So many talented musicians and great people - most of them being Australian. So not only am I getting my fill of Ghanian culture, but also Australian, as well.
That's all for now. Hope you're all well and I'll try and update this at some point next week.
David
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5 comments:
Wardy!!!
It's pretty wicked to hear you're doing something so exciting. I hope to see pictures soon of what you're doing. The drums particularly interest me........ y'know, all things considering haha.....
and it's nice to know you have internet, I'll be sure to email you hehe....
Take care.
-Lawrence
PS- Mosquitoes suck big time, eh?? haha
Hey Dave, Emme here. Long time no chat. Sounds like an absolutely amazing adventure you're on.
I hope your experiences inspire you, and that some groovy new sounds filter through in to your next fantas-teriffic cd release.
Take it all in.
~Emme
Sounds fabulous! One of my students was saying she wanted to go to Africa, so I got to tell her about you. My bitterness about living in Calgary may have seeped in.
I think you should close your eyes and point when you choose your new last name. Or, decide which looks better as a signature.
-S
David-
It sounds joyful in Ghana. I am jealous, but in the best kind of way. I agree with the comment about pictures if you can! And I would love to hear all about it when you get back safely :) I send you good juju/kharma/vibes for your trip and wish you the best in taking in all this beautiful music and culture.
Big Christie hugs,
C
I don't exactly know how to do this but I figure you can all read this as a response to your comments.
Thank you all so much for your lovely, kind and warm words. It means a lot to receive little notes like this. Unfortunately, I can't respond to them all personally as the internet is fairly slow here and I can only get to it once a week. But, let it be known that I do love receiving them and if you have the time and feel like doing so, please keep sending them my way!
Dave
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