M and I drove to Letterkenny in Donegal to see Solo Cissokho, a seventh-generation griot storyteller and kora player from Senegal. Solo is performing in a couple of places in Donegal as part of the Earagail Arts Festival, a two week, countywide arts festival. Only about 40 people turned out for the storyteller. He asked that kids sit on the floor at the front of the auditorium and M was only one of five kids to sit in front. Solo engaged the audience, teaching us to say hello in Swahili ("Jambu") and asking each of the kids his/her name. The kids each also had a turn playing the kora, which is a handmade instrument similar to a guitar, but with 23 strings. M liked playing the kora.
I couldn't take pictures, as the theater was dark. But here is a video of Solo Cisskho performing in Oslo in 2008.
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