May 20, 2002
All I wanted was to see the drums.
The boy strolled us around the village from house to house until we found the man who housed them. As we sat he nonchalantly disappeared and moments later returned with a gourd and some calabash. Interested, I picked them for examination and asked some questions regarding their use, method of playing, context and other details. As I was sitting and engaged in the gourds I noticed a small crowd gathering, one by one, interested in what I was interested in. A man took the large bulbous gourd and began playing it, maybe for me, maybe just to play. Now children began to dance shyly as more people gathered and some brought water. Someone took the calabashes and placed them on the water, tuning them as they played...later a bell joined in and hands began to clap. Naturally the dancing began with old ladies and young girls enjoying themselves and me them. As I should have expected one came near to me and beckoned me to join as I did to the delight of all. Shouts, whistles and smiles were abound as we all enjoyed the magic of the moment. That was one of the beautiful things Togo gave me in addition to lush landscapes peppered with fresh mangoes falling of the trees and into your hand. And hills which to me seemed like mountains since I've been on savannah for so long.
So now I leave for the North where they eat cheese and shea butter....and their houses are round.
I'm hungry...so long.
curtis
All I wanted was to see the drums.
The boy strolled us around the village from house to house until we found the man who housed them. As we sat he nonchalantly disappeared and moments later returned with a gourd and some calabash. Interested, I picked them for examination and asked some questions regarding their use, method of playing, context and other details. As I was sitting and engaged in the gourds I noticed a small crowd gathering, one by one, interested in what I was interested in. A man took the large bulbous gourd and began playing it, maybe for me, maybe just to play. Now children began to dance shyly as more people gathered and some brought water. Someone took the calabashes and placed them on the water, tuning them as they played...later a bell joined in and hands began to clap. Naturally the dancing began with old ladies and young girls enjoying themselves and me them. As I should have expected one came near to me and beckoned me to join as I did to the delight of all. Shouts, whistles and smiles were abound as we all enjoyed the magic of the moment. That was one of the beautiful things Togo gave me in addition to lush landscapes peppered with fresh mangoes falling of the trees and into your hand. And hills which to me seemed like mountains since I've been on savannah for so long.
So now I leave for the North where they eat cheese and shea butter....and their houses are round.
I'm hungry...so long.
curtis