"The Cue Performance at Karim Togola's center in Salabibugu Mali West Africa, 2007 Ira Bond

In 2007 I had the wonderful privilege to travel to Mali with Antioch University's Study Abroad program for about three months. There was intensive language classes in French and Bamana, cultural and aesthetic classes with amazing instructors, and most importantly to me, I got a chance to form a wonderful relationship with my teacher and friend from the Ballet National of Mali, Bobacar Diabate. I was welcomed into Bobacar's home as a family member.
More than the many rhythms and dances that he taught me, I cherish the fundamentals of the African thought, tradition, and the apprenticeship process that he shared. It is not an easy one... Failure is not an option, and I was pushed to levels that I did not know that I could reach. How I was taught in Mali differed like night and day in comparison to how I learned traditional culture and dance here in America. For that matter, I believe that hundreds of people, who travel to Africa, have still not experienced this process. We have to reclaim the African expectation. It states that failure is not an option, emphasized by our elders and teachers. We need to reclaim the respect for authority that these types of teaching perpetuate (especially to our youth). We need to realize what tradition reflects and why it is important to our existence. It may differ from person to person, but our why is imperative. If we do not do these things then African dancing and music becomes void of any true meaning because it loses the true spirit of Africa.
In this presentation I learn that, "with great power comes great responsibility." The Cue was written by Kofi Gymeriah, my first Cultural Instructor of Philadelphia. Much Props!!!
The first dance is the dance of the Dogon "Kanaga", the second dance is the dance of the Bobo, and the third dance is Sunu.
ira bond

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Music

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