Music and dance of Mali this Saturday

By Susie Davidson

CORRESPONDENT

The rich music and dance traditions of the West African country of Mali date back to the 13th century rule of warrior prince Sundyata Keita. Mali’s independence in the 1960s, along with the advent of radio, TV and recording technology, fostered the development of its cultural offerings. Big bands, governmentally subsidized, became popular in clubs and restaurants; the movement has continued to produce world music stars such as Habib Koite, Ali Farka Toure and Oumou Sangare. This Saturday at 8 p.m., dance, drum, song and kora musical genres of Mali will be featured as Troupe Baden’ya performs at the Cambridge Multicultural Arts Center.

Baden'ya’s Mohammed Joh Camara, Issa Coulibaly, Seydou Coulibaly, Abdoulay Diallo, Balla Tounkara, Moussa Traore, all of whom hold classes and performances in the Boston area, as well as special guests from NYC, will showcase eight separate pieces. The evening will feature a percussion ensemble, and a full traditional ballet as well. “Artists in West Africa are able to engage in social commentary in ways that many others cannot,” explained Troupe Baden'ya manager Ludwig Erich. “Traditional ballets are a means of communicating messages within society.”

The event is presented in artistic collaboration with WADaBo (West African Dance in Boston), a group which aims to promote West African dancing, drumming, music and culture in the Boston area. “There are many master teachers here, and a growing community of students as well,” said Erich, who noted that in the current political climate, it is becoming more and more difficult for artists to gain entry into the U.S. It is hoped that letters and calls from arts supporters to their representatives might result in revision of security clearance procedures, the expedition of visas and a decrease in discriminatory actions levied against culturally unique artists.

Camara, who directs Troupe Sewa in Boston, has performed with the Troupe District du Bamako in Mali.

Award-winning Master Dancer and choreographer Seydou Coulibaly, who began dancing professionally at the age of twelve, learned his craft directly in Mali’s Segu region from village elders, traditional rituals, secret society inductions and master dance teachers. From 1980 through 1990, he was the highest ranking actor and dancer with the Artistic Troupe of the District of Bamako, Mali’s capital. His dance company, Komme Djosse won a 1992 medal from the Malian Minister of the Arts; he has also won numerous awards at Malian dance competitions.

Coulibaly has been Artist-in-Residence at many New England schools; he has taught at Brown University, Roger Williams Middle School, Waterford, Conn.’s Eugene O’Neill Theatre Center at the National Theatre Institute, and at the Dance Complex in Central Square.

Master djun djun and djembe player Issa Coulibaly has performed with Mali’s Troupe Komme Djosse and has toured and performed around the world.

Dancer, drummer, choreographer and comedian Diallo has performed with Mali’s Troupe Sogolo and Troupe District du Bamako. In Mali’s biannual cultural competition, his Troupe Districts’s Bienal won for the years 1986, 1988, 1990 and 1992. He has appeared in several television serials on ORTM, Mali’s national television, and has toured France and Africa.

Djeneba, a singer and dancer currently living in Boulder, Colorado, has performed with Troupe District du Bamako and Troupe Komme Djosse in Mali; kora player and griot Balla, who was a member of Mali’s Troupe Keyli’te, often performs in Boston with his band Groupe Spirit.

A griot is an oral historian, a storyteller and personalized library who maintains the histories of villages and the geneaology of its members. West African folklore holds that “when a griot dies, a library has burned to the ground.” So too would many institutions perish without regional culture, thankfully supported by area arts groups.

The Cambridge Multicultural Arts Center presents Troupe Baden'ya, master artists from Mali, West Africa, on Saturday, March 15 at 8 p.m. They will perform African ballet, percussion, ensemble pieces, traditional griot, kora, and more. To reserve tickets in advance, please email soungalo@hotmail.com. Doors open at 7.30 and seating is general admission. For information on local West African dance events, please visit http://www.wadabo.org.futuresite.register.com/index.html