Memories of Africa and its music
The drums of Africa make my heart sing. This guy was amazing
I’m guessing this would be considered a xylophone. See how it’s supported on two chairs
Memories of West Africa came flooding back yesterday as I listened to a local radio program introducing and playing the music of Songhoy Blues, a young and talented Tuareg band from northern Mali. Their amazing sounds and energy took me back to 2009 when Poor John and I spent almost a year travelling overland through Africa on the back of a truck—a very basic truck.
Mali was our sixth country on this African Trails journey—after Spain, Gibraltar, Morocco, Western Sahara (if you count that as a country) and Mauritania.
Our driver, Chris, who had already lived in Africa for five years and done this trip before, was passionate about Mali and its musicians. So he organised a band to come play at our campground in Bamako, the capital.
The band gets ready to play. That’s our tent in the background
It was a fabulous afternoon and night with great music.
Mali was one of our favourite African countries on that trip—we visited 30. We had the chance to travel to Timbuktu (by boat), the villages of Dogon Country (mostly on foot), Djenne (in the truck) and more.
It’s time for me to write more about Africa and the extraordinary time we had there, so I’ll be jumping around on my posts—more mixing of our current and past travels.
And now I’m heading out to buy a Songhoy Blues CD or two.
Hope you can take the time to check out the music of Songhoy Blues and see if they make your heart sing
Where to next? 
30 countries. Wow!
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Not bad for one year. A fifth of the 30 were new to me that year.
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Good to see such happy memories of Mali. I recently read that Bamako is considered to be a dangerous place for westerners, but obviously not in your case.
https://www.gov.uk/foreign-travel-advice/mali
Best wishes, Pete.
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I think Bamako is still okay, but up north is dodgy.
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I smiled throughout the entire read. I long to have my heart dance from the beautiful sound of African drums.
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I travelled and camped throughout Africa in the late 1970s. I heard the drums most nights. You don’t hear them as much now unless there’s a band. I can highly recommend the music of Songhoy Blues. It’s music of defiance.
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It sounds luring from your descriptions.
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So let us know if you listen to their music on YouTube.
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You know me and music–it’s such a source of amazing experience, even if one is under siege by matchbox cars and Thomas the Tank Engine. 😉 Lovely post!
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Thanks Jean. I’ll send you their CD if you can’t get it in the USA.
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Thank you so much! Let me see what I dig up first in this Midwestern music scene and get back to you here. 🙂
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They have two CDs out—’Music in Exile’ and ‘Résistance’.
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Lovely post and photos. You can really feel the atmosphere from them. Makes me want to go! xxx
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Thank you. These pictures make me smile and dream.
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When I see the pictures of your tent, I want to say “Get a room!” When I see what surrounds it I want to say “amazing.” Musicians pay real money to experience “World Music” and it’s doubtful they become as immersed as your tent. Other of us copy CDs from the library or buy old vinyl from Half Price Books and sample libraries form people who have been there and take those “write your own movie” vacations in our heads. Thanks for the postcards and words from where it’s real!
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Between you and me—throughout Africa, our tent was often better than a room. Those dome tents are bug-proof.
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I’ve heard that…
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Just listened to them on utube The tiny desk concert..so cool..Loved it!
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Oh I’m so glad you listened to them. Yay!
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I liked them and you could see the joy in their faces 🙂
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My western Africa music experience is limited to Ghana, and I loved it. Any major regional differences that you know of?
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I imagine there are lots of regional differences, but none that I could identify.
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I love African music especially from Senegal and surrounding countries. I have a special love for North African music also (not the Habibi stuff). Great to read about your adventures as usual.
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West African music always sounds so energetic.
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I need some of that this morning…😴
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Thank you! Looks and sounds wonderful, Peggy! The xylophone reminds me of my African Xylophone I bought near your beach getaway on my trip to see you and brought Crystal!
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That was a great trip when you and Crystal visited.
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You say it as if it is such a simple thing: ‘spent almost a year travelling overland through Africa on the back of a truck’ – what an unusual and amazing experience that must have been. Somehow, you need to add ‘in a tent’, just for truth’s sake 🙂
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It was a wonderful experience, that wasn’t always easy. I look forward to sharing more of it here.
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I listened to a few of their songs on You Tube. On one hand, I can hear the blues, but other songs reminded me of 70s funk. They’re very good. Thanks for sharing. And you are quite the adventurer!!
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You’re right about the blues/funk mix. The radio commentators pointed that out too.
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This is great! I liked Ali Farka Touré, and a big fan of Omara “Bombino” Moctar, who’s also Tuareg, glad to learn of this band!
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Ali Farka Touré was my introduction to Malian music. I bought several of the band’s CDs when I was in Mali.
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Hello Peggy. I enjoyed this essay a lot. Mali is somewhere I’d like to visit, but probably won’t get to.
In the Philadelphia USA suburbs two nights ago I saw in concert a fantastic band from Congo. Mbongwana Star is their name.
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Thanks so much for telling me about Mbongwana Star.
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Sounds like a great trip. Heart warming memories.
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Yes, wonderful memories.
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Some great memories – I look forward to your upcoming posts Peggy. 🙂
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Thanks Terry. I’d better get cracking.
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You are a real intrepid traveller Peggy. I loved the music of West Africa too but we had nice company accommodation and went to the night clubs to enjoy the music. Havent been in a tent since I was in girl guides.
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I’ve spent a lot of time in tents over the last eight years.
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How do u stay so healthy when traveling to such exotic places? In spite of having all my shots, I caught superbug in India that had me coughing for years. And an acquaintance of mine spent months in hospital after working with families in Africa. I would love to go to West Africa one day; but how do you manage your health?
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I think some of my immunity comes from my 16 months in Egypt in 1976–77. I was so sick for three weeks at the beginning, and yet have never been sick again since then. Or I inherited my paternal grandmother’s cast-iron gut. Or both.
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That must have been an amazing time! Almost a year! I can’t even begin to imagine. I did an overland trip by truck and camping from Johannesburg to London with Encounter Overland in 1980. Four months and 13 countries. It was a lifetime highlight, but 4 months was enough. I look forward to more of your posts!
Alison
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Poor John did an African overland in 1973. I did one in 1977. We always said we’d do one together. Absolutely no regrets, even if our entourage was a rather dysfunctional collection. 🙂
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I’m sure you’re growing a little weary of the “30 countries in one year!” comments, but I can’t help but react to that. I don’t think I’ve been to 30 countries in my entire life. Maybe I should stop going back to the same places all the time, that might help my list grow a bit… 😉
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The African trip was a mixed bag. We had almost a month in some countries and less than a week in others. But every place offered something new. Still the most incredible trip I’ve ever done. And I’d quite happily do it again.
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My sister and her husband have spent the last forty five years in Ethiopia and they have an undying love for that part of Africa. But I am so sad when I look at the happy smiling faces of Africans in some parts and the horror that is in others. And this difference is seen on the streets of Melbourne with some happy families and some not so happy.
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Ethiopia was another of our favourite countries in Africa. But I agree with your sadness about photos showing happy and horror in Africa. So much we can’t fix.
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Thank you for noticing what most visitors never notice. You are very right.
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Every day of this trip we saw the realities that are Africa. Corruption is at the top of the list for fixing.
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Absolutely. Growing it hurt so deep to see how bad corruption was. Seeing an expecting mother die from child labor just because they didn’t have enough money to pay for services to be worked on and more……And I know all governments have their flaws but I yet I have seen our African countries lead in this area.
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I didn’t want to like your comment, but I wanted you to know I saw it. Where are you from in Africa? Botswana is one place that seems quite stable and progressive because the residents are from the same tribe. So tribalism may have a lot to answer for.
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I understand Miss Peggy 😁. I am from Uganda East Africa. Yes tribalism has so much impact in politics in Uganda as well.
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Great coverage of your trip.
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Thanks so much.
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This is amazing and the Music of Africa just wonderful.
I will try to get Songhoy Blues on YouTube.
THANKS
Shiva🎶
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I’m sure you can find them on You Tube. Cheers
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I’m envious of your ability to travel so much – at least I can see the world through your eyes.
Hope you’re feeling better.
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I know how lucky we are to be able to travel so extensively. And feel privileged to have the chance to share it widely too.
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I love your ability to pick jthe right photos, and the right words to transport us just a little, taking us for a glimpse into the world through your eyes. You enable us to enjoy some of your amazing travels with you. Thank you for sharing.
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Thanks so much Chris. I appreciate you traveling along with us. Oh, and choosing the right photo is a lot easier when you take way too many to begin with! 🙂
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Happy to discover via images one of african music, that is so amazing
thank you so much dear for great sharing
Kisses
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You are most welcome Anita. Kisses back to you.
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Thirty African countries in a year. Wow. That is impressive. I will have to look at your archives when I have the time. We are hoping to get to Africa early next year.. it will be my first time back in almost twenty years (I grew up in South Africa). Great post. Nothing like the beat and tunes of AFFFRIKKA
Peta
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Thanks, although I must say you that you won’t find much here on Africa just yet. That trip was before I started this blog. I plan to start adding posts soon—has to be before I forget.
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One of my best friends did the Africa in the back of a truck in the late 70s, Peggy. And I of course served there as a Peace Corps Volunteer from 1965-67. So I am excited about your series. –Curt
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Thanks Curt, I need to get to work on it.
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Certain Music makes me happy. Nice post and pictures.
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Thanks. Lots of African music is full of joy.
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May like it then. Don’t like Heavy metal music
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I don’t care for heavy metal either.
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So magnificent how music can take us back to places and memories, thank you for sharing this memory and this music!
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You are most welcome.
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In Brazil we have a strong African influence in the music, I have always loved the strong, invigorating sound of the drums. I would love to visit Africa, doing an overland trip like you did must have been amazing? I would love to hear more about your trip😄
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I’m working on an introductory post for that trip. Highly recommended trip. And yes, I spent a couple of months in Brazil and am aware of the African influences.
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I really want to visit Africa! It’s definitely on my bucket list…how did you find the perceptions of India before you went in comparison to the reality? Take a look at my blog at meganstravel.blog
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Hope you get to Africa soon. In India, the biggest surprise for me was just how much wildlife is there to see. I look forward to checking out your blog.
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Good one Peggy, they certainly livened up the evening, Can’t really remember the spit roast goat but am sure it was a good feed.
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Thanks Chris. I was such a great day–night,, and the goat was excellent.
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Great post!
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Thanks so much.
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Welcome!
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What an amazing experience. Look forward to reading more of your memories and sharing in more of the music of the land. Thanks for making me smile!
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Your comment made me smile in return. I look forward to sharing more of this incredible trip.
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Fantastic! Look forward to it.
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Must have been a wow experience — at least reading yr posts I get to know about so many countries ❤❤
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Thanks so much for ‘travelling’ along with me.
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You are welcome 😊
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Absolutely beautiful!!. I love the sound and depth of African drums. I always laugh at the fact that my husband tried drumming as a way to impress this African girl before we started dating; this was funny but cute to watch.
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Obviously he managed to drum his way into your heart! 🙂
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He definitely did.😀
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My husband and I plan to road trip throughout Africa as well. As an African historian it’s not only my dream it will be my job! I’m so thrilled. Looking forward to reading more.
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Delighted to have you follow along. I hope my posts are of some help to you and your husband.
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Good thanks
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Very interesting. Good for sharing this piece.
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My pleasure.
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How exciting, I would love to travel there! Looks beautiful
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It was an extraordinary trip.
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Africa is truly amazing.I speak of experience living in ye southern point of Africa.. Was really nice to read your post.If you guys ate interested in hearing african deephouse downtempo chilled music check out my music blog post
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Look forward to checking out your blog.
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West Africa is the BEST. I spent a month in Burkina Faso. I also fell in the with the music there. ❤
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We loved Burkina Faso too. I remember a concert there and torrential rain and winds. One tent blew away.
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Sounds about right!
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Thank you !!!!!
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Great music.
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It’s enjoyable to be able to scroll through looking at things I’m unfamiliar with, it helps give a sense of the different cultures in the world and I enjoy the way you share your experiences. I look forward to browsing through even more of your posts.
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Thanks so much. I’m so glad you found me and are enjoying the posts.
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