The Dance Celebration

I had an experience today that will stay with me forever. It left me in awe, full of energy, loving Mali and loving life.

It started when I ascended a hike above Sikoro where the clinic is. As I was hiking up the dusty and rocky trail I could hear music that sounded like a marimba. When I passed the house where the music was coming I saw a woman dancing inside.

The hike up and down took a bit more than an hour. On the way down I could still hear the music so I stopped. There were several kids outside and they were checking me out and calling me Toubab. I decided to poke my head into the area where the music was and that’s when the fun really began.

The people smiled when they saw me and beckoned me in. They kicked a kid out of a seat and let me sit down. The celebration was taking place under a tarp in a sort of courtyard area between several brick tin roofed homes. 

There was a man playing a Balafon which is like an African xylophone. It is a sophisticated framed instruments, with hollowed out gourds (a type of pumkin) used as resonators. African slaves took the instrument to South and Central America where it became known as the “Marimba”.

He was accompanied by two women drumming on an upside down calabash (sort of like big gourds) which were resting on water in a wide barrels.

The courtyard was filled with people. There was an inner circle of  women who took turns singing. Then women would get up one at a time or in groups up to 4 to dance. Then every now and then the music would build to a frenzy and the woman would dance violently throwing her arms, head and legs about. Each time the woman got light headed and nearly fell. Men and women would come to her aid then and help her sit. 

Once a woman fell. I stopped her from hitting her head on the ground.

The celebration seemed to be centered around a woman who was possibly getting married. She did her routine yelling and screaming occasionally. Eventually she was draped in white and given an animal hide on which to pray. Shortly after that she was given a necklace and then walked in circles around the area.

The whole scene was profoundly moving and the music was incredible. When I clapped along, the people got very excited.

Today was like the day when I got in the chimney while filming On The Wing. I am so happy that I poked my head in and I am amazed by the graciousness, trust and openness of the Malians. It is very indicative of all the people we have run across. Incredibly kind and willing to share themselves and their culture.

Here are a few photos. The video is some of the best I’ve ever shot, but you’ll have to wait for that.