Hey, just to give all a heads up....the second year of Festival Tamasonghoi is in Bourem next month -- if you're around, it's highly recommended:


When: Jan. 14, 15, 16th 2011
Location: In the town of Bourem, just up the road from Gao.
What: Festival Tamasonghoi is a very different festival from the big one in Timbouctou. It's the second edition -- the first year was quite unbelievable. In a flat sandy field away from the river, there were something like 50 songhoi houses, and 20 tuareg tents -- these were constructed and contributed by different villagers from the surrounding area, who basically made up the audience of the festival. Besides myself, there were a handful of other foreigners present. The festival is not for everyone. It is a local event, there is lots of spontaneous singing during the day (mp3 recorded last year), as well as horse and canoe races. But the lineup boasts some of the most incredible groups from across Mali, Mauritania, and Benin. Again, I wouldn't tell everyone to hop on a taxi brousse to Gao after Timbouctou. But if you don't mind a little typical W. African travel and want something more intimate and less commercial, find a way to Bourem!

Lineup:

Amanar, Mali mp3
Atia & Douma, Mali (Takamba)
Mohamed Siyed, Mauritania
Alle's Tones brass band, Benin
Aminata Wassidje, Mali
Alikbar Gignor, Mali mp3
Abdallah Oumbadougou, Niger
Sadio Sidibe, Mali
One Pac, Mali
Diego, Mali
Khaira Arby, Mali
Kanna, Mali
Leila, Mali
More TBA...

website: [url=http://festivaltamasonghoibourem.unblog.fr/]Festival Tamasongho