Baaba Maal in Portland
When I first arrived in my village, I was never seen without my little notebook. Names of people, phrases that seemed incomprehensible, and tidbits of days in a village went into this book like pieces of a greater puzzle in hopes that I would someday see a finished picture. I've come to accept that I never will, but that's a story for another day.
The first page of said notebook contains the names of village family members and approximate ages. The first were my two brothers Margie and Bomb - well, Maame Aadji and Bobul I quickly found out. "No, 'Bomb' is the name of the animal that cracks you up every time it speaks (donkey)" For the record who knew that donkeys created chain reactions of hee-hawing like it was their last hour to live across the village - most notably at 5am EVERY MORNING.
The third brother I met was Baw-Bal. It took me a good month to figure out that that was actually his nickname and that it was in fact Baaba Maal. Wait, isn't that... Yes, the famous Senegalese singer. Most babies start out by calling for their life support: Mom or Dad. Apparently, my brother came out singing like Baaba Maal.
Whilst talking to some of my favorite people on the phone yesterday (aunt and uncle in Portland, OR), I was informed that my brother's namesake: Senegal's very own Baaba Maal will be performing at the Portland Zoo this Wednesday (June 28th for you Oregon folks). "Have you heard of him?" my aunt asked innocently - "Once or twice..." I look forward to hearing how the concert goes - And no, I'm not jealous at all thinking about my friends enjoying eachother's company and his music while sitting on a blanket on actual grass eating sugar-coated fried dough, soft serve icecream, a big piece of cheesy pizza, and drinking a cool fountain soda with chipped ice. Nope, not one bit. Now if you'll excuse me, I have a date with a large bowl of millet and peanut sauce - and Baaba Maal.
The first page of said notebook contains the names of village family members and approximate ages. The first were my two brothers Margie and Bomb - well, Maame Aadji and Bobul I quickly found out. "No, 'Bomb' is the name of the animal that cracks you up every time it speaks (donkey)" For the record who knew that donkeys created chain reactions of hee-hawing like it was their last hour to live across the village - most notably at 5am EVERY MORNING.
The third brother I met was Baw-Bal. It took me a good month to figure out that that was actually his nickname and that it was in fact Baaba Maal. Wait, isn't that... Yes, the famous Senegalese singer. Most babies start out by calling for their life support: Mom or Dad. Apparently, my brother came out singing like Baaba Maal.
Whilst talking to some of my favorite people on the phone yesterday (aunt and uncle in Portland, OR), I was informed that my brother's namesake: Senegal's very own Baaba Maal will be performing at the Portland Zoo this Wednesday (June 28th for you Oregon folks). "Have you heard of him?" my aunt asked innocently - "Once or twice..." I look forward to hearing how the concert goes - And no, I'm not jealous at all thinking about my friends enjoying eachother's company and his music while sitting on a blanket on actual grass eating sugar-coated fried dough, soft serve icecream, a big piece of cheesy pizza, and drinking a cool fountain soda with chipped ice. Nope, not one bit. Now if you'll excuse me, I have a date with a large bowl of millet and peanut sauce - and Baaba Maal.
posted by Arianne at 9:54 AM
2 Comments:
So here's the low down on the concert...the music was great, but we didn't eat any fried dough. We did eat cheeseburgers, and I do think Lindsay convinced Carl to stand in line for an ice cream. The place was packed! It was the first night of a visit with Lisa & Cody, and they were good sports to travel all day but still agree to go join a crowd on a lawn. Of course, I bought a CD (Carl would say he's never been with me to hear live music when I haven't, but you know that's not true, (there was that Rob Schneider concert at the aladin!). Anyway, we would have had more fun if you did some interpretation, but the show was very entertaining without...we presumed he was singing about all the usual things people sing about...family, friends, love gone good and bad, but maybe also that trees won't grow in the desert and that there's a great need for more food and medicine in Africa! Read an article in today's oregonian about a former PCV in Liberia who 40 years later is going back to set up libraries...pretty cool. talk to you soon! Go Baba Maal!
Shiela, thanks for the low down:-) While thinking about you all (and friends and family of at least one other PCV here in Senegal!) listening to Senegalese music in Oregon, I can't help but hear "it's a small world" play lightly in the background.
I remember that night at the Aladin; even though it wasn't quite up to the "Donna the Buffalo" caliber, I do recall you seriously debating a CD purchase from the opening act (was that before or after he invited the audience to add him as a 'buddy' in their 'My Space' accounts?)
I looked up the article you recommended (http://www.oregonlive.com/search/index.ssf?/base/news/1151974542195780.xml?oregonian?ylccsd&coll=7) good stuff; Pacific Northwest Colleges and Universities consistently rank high on a listing of alumni currently serving in the Peace Corps - Current number of volunteers from Oregon: 222... I think there must be a soft spot in all of our hearts where we miss the reliable PNW rain :) (esp. those of us in arid African lands!) Go Oregon! p.s. remember that room in your basement you offered to let me stay in...
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