Moussé Ndiaye's Memorable Performance
The first part of the concert, hosted by Clare Agius, combined three minute-long presentations about Africa made by Marcelle Theuma with performances by Abdirizak Elmi and Bashir Yousef from Somalia, Joyce Mbilla and Grace Benjamin from Tanzania (accompanied by Robert Calleja) and Jamil Limam from Tunisia. With his fascinating work on the lute and with his wonderful voice, Abdirizak Elmi, who was performing in Malta for the first time, provided some of the best moments in the first part of the programme. One hopes that this first appearance will pave the way for more performances on the island in the near future. Jamil Limam, playing for the third time at the University since taking part in the 1998 edition of Evenings on Campus, gave probably his best peformance yet.
After the interval, with its fair share of African food provided by the local African restaurant Bistit, it was Moussé Ndiaye's turn to give the audience a true taste not only of Senegalese rhythm but also of West African culture in general.
The excellent turnout and the charged atmosphere in the Hall were probably due to the fact that after four days of workshops in primary and secondary schools, at the Eden Foundation, and at the University of Malta, many of the people who filled the Hall to capacity (and beyond) to listen to Moussé and Thioune Fatou Ndiaye had already had some experience of his philosophy and his music. During his almost hour-long, at times breathtaking performance, Moussé spoke about what it means to be a griot in West Africa and how he has integrated his traditional role as musician and peace maker with his new role as music educator and cultural promoter in Finland where he now lives (although he visits his country regularly, normally every two months).
Throughout his career, Moussé Ndiaye has played with world-famous musicians like Youssou Ndour, Orchestra Baobab and Baaba Maal, and toured in many European countries. He has also lectured at the University of Helsinki and various music academies and conducted workshops with children, young people, grown-ups, prison inmates and disabled people. 'Every training', he says, 'begins with opening up the natural channels of every individual so that they can feel free to express themselves through playing, singing and dancing.'
His openness and experience with different cultures have led him to conduct successful experiments like combining the traditional djembe drums with classical violins and cellos in projects with music students. Recently he has also combined djembe drums with the original singing and playing of the Sami people in the North of Finland. 'It is possible to create many new things built on the ancient traditions and thus also to give examples of how people of all times and different cultures can have a lot to share in the positive sense.'
In the last twenty minutes of his performance with singer and dancer Thioune Fatou he called some of those who attended his workshops in Malta to play with him on stage. Griot musicians usually play in large groups rather than alone. His 'students', including both musicians and young people who had never played a drum before, accompanied him in style and showed that he is not merely a very good, authentic musician, which is of course an achievement in itself, but also an excellent, inspiring educator.
It was clear to all those who were present that throughout his performance Moussé really enjoyed himself; but it was also clear that he enjoyed himself most when people glady accepted his invitation to the audience to join him and Thioune on stage to dance and play. At various instances he insisted on his 'mission', as he likes to call it, to 'connect' people. For him this was not really a concert, but a 'gathering of people'. And that is probably why he ended his performance with a jamming session that brought together his djembe 'students' and Abdirizak Elmi, Bashir Yousef and Jamil Limam who had played in the first part of the concert.
With his inspiring participation in the African Week organized by the Third World Group and Koperattiva Kummerc Gust, and with his memorable 18 March performance, Moussé Ndiaye has certainly managed to 'connect' people.
Adrian Grima
