THE AFRO MANDING BAND (AFRO WOLOF) WEDNESDAY PRACTICE - MARCH 2012 FIVE DAYS LATER

Five days later we did it all again, but in the meantime tragedy had struck...
Hadim's Father had died and he'd got the 'phone call to tell him as we were loading the car with the equipment on the Friday night.
Now he was with his family for forty days so he would not be at the second practice.

The practice itself was going to be held at a small cafe used by the market traders just at the rear of Banjul's Craft Market and right on the beach.
Mariama and Jalika would still be at school when we left to go and so they would be missing this one also.
When we arrived, Macumba told us that their balofon player had to work and so he wouldn't be there either.
It never rains but it pours...

But, we got it down, and finally here it is...
If you've seen the first one with all drums then you will find out what a kora can do over the drummers rhythms.
It's Gambian music and these guys are proud of it, and what is more they have every right to be...

Enjoy.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=3-PbKGx4wTc

THE AFRO MANDING BAND (AFRO WOLOF) FRIDAY PRACTICE SESSION MARCH 2012

So... Having finally managed to extricate the film from 'Camera Hell', this post SHOULD have been part of the posts for Sainabou's Wedding.
The fact that it wasn't was an absolute pain in the arse at the time.
However, with the advent of more brains and the help of my friend Marcus who makes films for a living, we've managed to save it and finally 'Get it out there...'

Those of you who tune in to this blog from time to time will know that I tend to go on about this group of musicians in The Gambia who play drums and who help out my daughter by letting her practice with them.
Well, here they are...

This will be the first post of two.
The other will be posted when and if ?
If everything was working as it should be, then this wouldn't be as late as it is, but sometimes things don't always go according to plan...

Anyway, enjoy the practice session.
All narration and filming by the Missus.
Oh yeah, one final thing.
Any actual musicians reading this, then just think 'soundcheck' with one crucial member missing (kora/vocalist) No change there, then...
Enjoy the guys.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=kzfDPYWvl_c