trip part 1

I'm in Bamako after a trip to the northern parts of Mali. Let me tell you the tale...

First I came to Bamako for one night, to see the Alpha Blondy concert, for those of you who don't know, he is one of the kings of African reggae. It was a really cool concert, about 15 PCVs went. the concert didn't start until around midnight (it was supposed to have started at 10), we had to beat HUGE crowds, gendarmes beating people with batons, but we finally made it to the grass and danced the night away to the funky beats of Alpha. I hadn't heard his new album before this concert, but he played his really cool cover of Pink Floyd's 'I wish you were here' also found on his album.

One of the things I love most about Alpha is how he is an international star, yet you can go to my small village and pop in a tape of his and my homologue's wife, Alima, can sing along.