By Ildikó Hermina Szilasi
It is not easy to make 60 children sit for 80 minutes with opened mouth and heart, but the African series of the World Makes Music show at the Palace of Arts (MUPA) could make it. From 11-12:30, the Glass Hall of MUPA was loud from the soundsof the various North and West African instruments – darbuka, bendir, djembe, kora, balafone, sabar drum, etc.- were presented by the best selection of Africa related musicians on stage: Károly Fehér (Ethnosound); János Gerzson; Adbul Aziz(France, the Antilles); Cheikh Ibrahima Fall (Senegal, Guinea) and Mbaye Ndiaye (Senegal).
Participants could not only have a chance to listen to the music of these interesting instruments. They were equally able to learn more about their origin and culture as artists presenting their beloved instruments. It was particularly englihtening to see families to choose this cultural event as Saturday morning program with their children. It was amazing to experience the open-hearted children dancing with Mbaye Ndiaye, learning some basic steps from him, holding his hands. Having joy and fun with him, and African music and dance. But the Africa tour in Budapest has not finished yet…
In the evening, from 8-11 pm the Drunken Tailor Pub (Népszínház u. 26., near Blaha Lujza aquare) was filled with African rythms, dance and music. „Afro Magic drum Show. Drum and dance teaching. Maly Baye Fall. Dj Azou. All style of music…You have chance to try…Positive vibration, free entrance. God Bless!”- just to recall some words from the advertisement of the event. All of them are true. Fascinating people and music, friendly environment, warm welcoming, great dj, the best drummers on stage, and heavy dancing until 3 am in the morning. It was just a perfect ending of our Africa night. And a perfect travel for our Africa loving soul. We can not wait for the next occassion.
More information: Drunken Tailor (Facebook); Mbaye Ndiaye (Facebook); Sankolokan (Facebook)
|
|
|
By Ana Carolina Marques
Two weeks ago, I would have never imagined that leaving Brazil, my native country, which passed through centuries of Africans slavery and its deep consequences in society, would lead me to an imersive African experience in… Budapest. As much as Hungarian touristic places, my first time in the city revealed me impressive musical contact with the African culture and resulted in me falling in love.
First, some strings played. Sounded like a guitar. Then, some more added. All of a sudden, it appeared to my ears that a full orchestra of guitars and its alikes were presenting to me. And it all came from a single – and amazing – african instrument called Kora. The weird shape and the unusual way of playing the 21 strings with only four fingers showed me quite strikingly, and yet humbly, how my mindset is used to common Western instruments, never having put much thought that there are million other forms of making music.
Not only the Kora, but all other drums, flutes and exhotic instruments got united in MUPA to amaze my ignorant cultural background and stuck-to-routine experiences. It was as much a gift to listen to something usually only found in Mali, Senegal or Guinea as to be able to play it afterwards, as Abdul Aziz and his colleagues kindly let (watch a fascinating presentation here http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=5ydNzJHYnDY).
Luckily, I had the delight to listen to the one I have then fallen in love for in the very same day. The Kora stand there, spreading its beautiful vibrations through the Drunken Tailor Bar’s basement. It was soon followed by the mighty presentation of African drums, whose names go from kenkeni to dumdum. Fierce hands, leather and wood made my interior tremble according to the rythm and feel the ups and downs of the stumps, so loud and so concentrated.
The most socially formidable integration between black and white people happened in that place, either playing or dancing together. Hungarians were there because they really wanted to, looking for any of the many gratification that approaching another culture can offer you. I got there pretty unexpectedly, as it was my entire Budapest experience, and just so luckily had the pleasure of it all.