WHERE MY OWL FLIES FREE AND THE LION ROARS WILD: June 2008

Thursday, June 26, 2008

le serviteur de Son Altesse

Sometimes the unexpected defies the imagination of the expected and put us in the middle of very interesting situations. And definitely this was one of those.

We had to walk around the Medina looking for a man: the King of The Medina. We finally found him in a place called Space Medina. He was sitting in a corner with an incription on the wall: la cour supreme having tea with a white man and invited us to sit there involved in a very formal atmosphere.

The white man sitting next to The King introduced himself as the servant of His Royal Highness. With french nationality but living in China, he came to Dakar to meet The King, share and learn about spirituality including an emotional experience of religious awe and reverence.

And this conversation was the beginning of one of the most interesting afternoons I lived there...

Tuesday, June 24, 2008

portrait

A simple portrait can dig into a profound well as sometimes simplicity is more intense than anything else. No need of light, no need of words. Take away the superfluous and mantain a deep eye contact. Dive into the soul through the eyes and you'll learn about sincerity and about the world.

And this picture and a recent conversation just sparked an idea... ;-)

Monday, June 23, 2008

witches night

Witches night. The eve of the Summer Solstice full of mysticism, spells, magic and wishes. Throughout history, bonfires were lit this night to protect against evil spirits which were believed to room freely when the sun was turning southwards again. Witches were also thought to be on their way to meetings with other evil powers.

Tonight wishes can come true, and the energies are free and ready to light the fire. Witches, fire, the moonlight, the sound of the sea.... The Greek Classical Elements (Earth, Water, Air, Fire) all together in a magical night. But there is a fifth element added by Buddhism and Hinduism: the quintessence that is made of a different, unchangeable and heavenly substance that belongs to the mind. The energy that can make a star. Maybe tonight I can't 'touch' Earth, Water, Air or Fire, but the fifth element will bring me the Magic so my heart will be where I need to be, and I'm sure I'll see a spark of fire in my owl's eyes and my soul will fly free with him to that place where the lions will roar loud and wild.

Sunday, June 22, 2008

les femmes de Nder

Descendant of a senegalese heroine at the black diaspora Rose and I were talking about the strength of the women in her family. And she told me the story of one of her ancestors: the Queen of the Nder Women. Les femmes de Nder were a resistance group of senegalese women that burned themselves (Walo, 1819) in a collective sacrifice to avoid falling into the hands of the enslavers. All the Nder women died but one. It was Freedom or Death.

Since then and for many years in the same november day, a rite called "Talata Nder" was found in the Nder village to honor the memory of these heroines and during hours, men and women, young and old people shut themselves up in their houses to pray for les femmes de Nder.

Saturday, June 21, 2008

sand

There is sand in this picture. Difficult to notice at first glance but it is there, as I put it aware of its meaning. A handful of african sand in a transparent glass that is not easy to recognize.

As the sand I brought with me the first time I went to Senegal. Warm and brave sand that made me stronger and gave me courage to fight for my soul. Sand that I just left behind in Yoff, in front of the beach, taking advantage of the breeze.

Thursday, June 19, 2008

photography

To be a photographer, one must photograph. One must feel at the moment of taking a picture. One must be aware and receptive getting involved in the situation. One must be part of it and capture the essence and soul. Be instinctive, get inside oneself, get inside someone else, be a mirror... be a window.... and right in the moment you are shooting, forget about everything else.

Monday, June 16, 2008

fusion

I like to collect moments. As I love emotions, I live moments deeply and keep some of them in my heart.

Right now, watching this video, I lived again a beautiful and emotive moment: the new version of Lenguas de Serpiente was almost ready. They played it while I was taking some pictures. I still can feel the emotions that filled the air of the studio at that moment. And that is how the first demo sounded...

Saturday, June 14, 2008

who's gonna save my soul now

I've been shut in for the last days clearing the backlog. Doing nothing but working, working, working.... and still have some more days ahead before finishing. Have no time for anything else...

In these moments, a beautiful song can open your mind and make you fly.

Thursday, June 12, 2008

sunugaal

Rawan is a 13 years old boy with a very promising future in the music world. He became protégés of Didier Awadi as he definitely has a very talented voice. Rawan defines himself as a rapper and singer but during the workshop, Awadi gave him an advise: 'keep on rapping if you like, but don't neglect your voice and train yourself as a singer because your future is there'.
I do love his voice as a rapper and as a singer (he reminds me of Lenny Kravitz) and I'm sure he will have a great success soon.
During our festival he put his voice in two songs and sang in front of hundreds of people in a big concert. And a spanish recording team filmed a documentary about him.
A nice guy that deserves this and more.

One of the other singers was Zolo. I met Zolo last year during my first trip to Senegal and he gave me one of his beautiful songs. I like this guy a lot and I'm proud and happy that he joined us in this fantastic project. Born in Nigeria and living in Dakar, with a stroke of luck soon we will hear them all over the world!

Rawan and Zolo together with the participation of Bouba Mendi (singer that gave his voice for the soundtrack of 'Kirikou and the Sorceress' with Youssou N'Dour), recorder two songs with La Voz de los Nadie and Didier Awadi at Studio Sankara.

The second song is a version of one of Awadi's songs called 'sunu gaal' wich means 'our canoe' (nuestra piragua) in wolof. And that is the origin of the word Senegal !!

Here you have the second song recorder during these days in Dakar:

Tuesday, June 10, 2008

lenguas de serpiente

La Voz de los Nadie is the spanish band that joined forces with us to create a mixture of soul and rhythm with three african singers (Awadi, Rawan and Zolo). Amazing and enthusiastic guys, Jaume and David stamp their feelings and sensibility in all their songs spreading around all their energy, happiness and positive mood.

During the music workshop at Studio Sankara, they recorded two songs. The first one was a new version of their song Lenguas de Serpiente with the colaboration of Awadi, Rawan and Zolo (my next post will be dedicated to them and the second song).

Ladies and gentlement, the first result of this amazing blending of cultures:

Saturday, June 7, 2008

african spirit

It is difficult to forget the intensity of the african spirit, so every time I come back from Africa I feel a little confused about reality. My last days in Dakar where full of that essence. No water supply, no electricity, no internet, no big responsabilities, some relax after the festival and a gorgeous and amazing photo report. The best end for a busy and intense week. So now, before writting a summary of all the great things that these fantastic gang of spanish and senegalese artists did together, I just want to close my eyes and feel, once more, the african spirit that filled my last emotions and feelings. As the warmth of the conversations with my friend Rose and the happiness of cute Coucou, baths in a bucket with cold water with the only light of a candle, falling asleep with the sound of the sea and my boots covered with sand.

I'm back in all senses. But brought with me strong sensations and a lot of learning about the big things in life.

Sunday, June 1, 2008

xeex

I have been busy and without internet connection for the last two days. Too many things going on at the same time. Impossible to be everywhere so I have been missing some of the xeex events. But last night we finally put all the artists together in the same place and enjoyed a concert with african flavour. The feeling and atmosphere was just great. We did something all together and now it is time to show it and spread around the mixture, conections and soul. The musicians recorder two songs and the fashion designers designed two dresses. The result is just great!! One thing is for sure: working together and sharing what we all have inside makes us stronger. Unity is power.
Today we will finish the festival with a big fashion show and live music at the Empire des Enfants. And like last night, we will feel, again, the enthusiasm of all the artists together. Just great.

WHERE MY OWL FLIES FREE AND THE LION ROARS WILD