Jalibengo/Korafestival 2005

The year's korafestival is now implemented and we can  look back on a successful weekend with delicate atmosphere and many visitors.

The Friday was initiated with Jali Sumung - a korapitch where Alhaji M´ bye  together with among other Soussou Hagbert - Gotlow, Andreas's Åkesson and Maher Cissokho got the evening that glimmer. Alhaji M´ bye from Gambia is griot and is descended since several generations from an esteemed Jalifamilj. He is an important carrier of the tradition and also a precursor within teaching in koraplaying. Alhaji runs a school in Gambia where interested from the all world's corners gets to handle kora and other African instruments. Among the evening's participants was found several of Alhajis students on the scene. The Friday's programmes were completed with the band Cosmogriot, that ensured that the visitors could to release loose to a mix of  Latin and African rhythms. The whole occasion was monitored and was played in of  P2:s musical radio. Also Thomas Blom from P2:s programmes Klingan visited the festival.

The Saturday was opened with a workshop where Alhaji taught Swede kora students. Thomas Blom interviewed Alhaji and played also in the teaching the whole occasion. The day continued with a seminar where Eva Saether presented her dissertation “The oral University”. In the study as been done along with Alhaji M´bye gives she a picture of the musical education in Gambia but opens also for a discussion around Jali-traditionens future possibilities. During the seminar might Alhaji occasion to tell about his situation as griot and to reply on questions from an interested and knowledgeable crowd audiences. The showed with clarity which delicate tightrope Ahaji carried out when he piloted kora education outside its traditional environment. The evening was rounded off on the Southern theater where the Danish/gambian group Wakilo secured atmosphere with there interesting mixture of  Vest African music and jazz. Wakilo means enthusiasm on mandinka and describes actually the group's musics. During the concert was Wakilo visited of Alhaji M´bye that with his brilliant koraplay further increased temperature. Klubb Mbalax with there mixture of Afromanding sounds from SeneGambia maked a good peformance.

The family day became a success. Many families with child and tourists visited Stallet during the day. Very much appriciated of families with child that wish there will becomes several. The children as visited no-cost kora workshop been very impressed of koran with so many strings. Perhaps will some play in the future. Dance and sing-workshop with Kebba Sonko set rat on all as participated, both big and small children. The booktable, the market and the dishes from Gambia each a lot of excited.

Organizer: Cultureassociation Africa in Östberga in collaboration with Art Council Gambia/Stockholm's town's Kulturförvaltning/Swedish Institute/the Danish embassy/the Southern theater/CinemAfrica, Cultureassociation AfroArt/ABF/Stallet and Rfod