Epic Tale
|
| |
The Story of Sundiata Keita
Mohamed Khazzaly Diallo and Tony Vacca
The Story of Sundiata Keita, first ruler of the Mali Empire is an epic tale known through out all of West Africa. It's a story that weaves together the very strange circumstances of his birth (for told by a nomad soothsayer), his profound childhood disabilities (that made him an outcast in his own family), his exile, and finally his fateful return to reclaim his birthright and become emperor.
Such an extraordinary life bears retelling, though in the very process of honoring and passing on his story, history was transformed into legend. The praise songs of West African Griots created a tale of such dimensions that were equal to the stranger than fiction realities from which they came. The longevity and grandeur of the empire he founded made it difficult to overstate what his life set in motion, which in turn made it easy to exaggerate his accomplishments and his character. The story of Sundiata brings a difficult and amazing life to mythic proportions. The centuries of Griot's tales have sealed into a truthful recounting of this web of truths and his story has become epic, praise songs from all Africa and beyond share in the commemorations of his life and spirit. The story is told by the Griots of today; as yet another generation takes part in keeping his memory alive.
This story would be quite enough, and complete within itself but there's more. Just as Sundiata Keita was born and became an outcast because of his physical appearance and apparent handicaps, so then some 800 years later Salif Keita, direct descendant of Sundiata the Emperor, was born in what is now the country of Mali. He was born an albino and outcast by his family, except his mother. The story has repeated itself, and now Salif Keita claims the throne, but in a very different way. Salif is one of the most prominent Afro-pop stars of the last two decades, and is certainly a prominent spiritual and political voice of this people. This incredible return of the King brings the opportunity to present to students not only the cyclical nature of history, but also the ways in which ancient and contemporary African life has a message for us.
TELLING THE STORY: More extraordinary circumstances.
MOHAMED KHAZZALY JALLOW: Storyteller and scholar from Guinee, West Africa. He speaks several West African languages, including Bambara, the story's original language. In the telling of this epic, Kazzahlee will introduce listeners to the sounds of Bambara for a few moments, so they can hear and appreciate the full flavor of the original tale.
TONY VACCA: Traveled several times to Mali and West Africa accompanies Kazzahlee on the Balafon, a West African Xylophone. Accompanies Sekou on percussion. Conducts percussion workshops with students.
SEKOU SYLLA: Sekou Sylla is a musician, dancer and acrobat from Guinea, West Africa. He speaks English, and is fluent in French, and his tribal languages Sou Sou and Malinke. He has performed with Les Ballets Africains, and Ballet Djoliba. Sekou would add an African dance component to the workshop.
INTRODUCTION TO STORY: Students read aloud from "Sundiata-Epic of Old Mali." Have us perform it. Skill building: Percussion studies, Storytelling, Movement & Dance. Listen to Salif Keita's music and lyrics.
BACKGROUND - PREPARATION STUDIES:
GEOGRAPHY; brief historic survey of West Africa, empires of Songhai, Mali, Ghana, major figures to present day. Students read: Sundiata-Epic of Old Mali, by D.T. Niane (Addison Wesley Longman Limited). Reading aloud in class and developing a sense of drama.
WORKSHOPS AND PERFORMANCES: Visiting artists arrive for a 2-3 day visit in each school during which time they: Offer hands-on workshops to build skills. Instrumental playing African Dance Story telling with Khazzalee Trio works with students to incorporate them inside a group School wide performance, which include workshop participants.
|
|
