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Segou, Festival sur le Niger. 2nd day.

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Thursday, February 03 2006

1 year, 6 month, 12 days

Segou, Mali

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About Travel Photography,
Colors of the World.

Manfred is creator of ThisFabTrek.com, travel photography, a travel blog and a photography blog (a journey from 2004 to 2013). 'I set out to see the colors of the world, always I try to capture the colors'.

Seeing, is understanding, so I report and photograph, but formost enjoy and live those different conceptions of life (all that TV [and the web] cannot give). I reject jealousy, animosity, bigotry. Be free!

Manfred in the desert of the Western Sahara

The mind, when pondering at night and always asked those questions. What am I doing in corporate wonderland of bank, university, office or church? Who is the other animal asleep deep inside, the thinker, punk, creative, or Indian, vagabond and healer, maybe artist, writer, photographer, traveler, globetrotter? Oh God, dare you to think. When I saw the lies, gambles and manipulations I follow the old dream and set out for the journey of life lived, the journey to see the colors of the world.

During years on the road I have taken the turns as they came along, and realized one thing: Only such a small part of the planet can be explored and such a vast land and sea mass will always remain unknown, to me; many swamps, jungles, deserts and oceans will never be traveled. But then I am father of twin boys, Daniel and David, my most important, and I show them some of the wonders and colors out there.

ThisFabTrek, Photography and Journey, the Stories from the Road and Life around the World, stopped in August 2013 after more than 9 years, Love and Peace.

Last vehicle.

G20, Chevy Gladiator.

Chevrolet Gladiator G20, The boys in Cordillera Blanca, Peru.
The boys and Chevy van, Peru.

The G20, the vehicle that came to me for the Americas adventures.

6 wheeled Land Rover.

Land Rover Defender 6x6
Link to Foley

The vehicle of the Africa adventures, a Foley 6-Wheeled Land Rover Defender.

Before, the MB307.

Manfred and MB307
Journey, Middle East.

The vehicle of the Middle-East and North-Cape Journeys. See all vehicles.

Daniel and David with nanny Aisha, the best we ever had, black African Woman carrying white twin babies, in Bamako, Mali.

Land Rover 45,508km

Trekking 305km

Ferry 694km

Train 150km

Other cars 5.336km

Travel Blog

contains Festival/Fiesta/Art photography.

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"There is nothing more powerful than an idea whose time has come." - Victor Hugo.

"What matters in life is not what happens to you but what you remember and how you remember it, to tell the tale." Living to Tell the Tale - Gabriel García Márquez.

"They never taught wandering in any school I attended. ... they never taught the art of writing a book, either. It's all so mysterious."
"Wandering is an art in itself. Wandering and writing don't mix"
"Writing demands commitment and if one thing your wanderer is allergic to is that very quality of commitment, for once one is committed he runs that very risk of failure ..." Wanderer - Sterling Hayden.

www.thisfabtrek.com > journey > africa > mali > 20060203-segou

Opening, Mamou Daffé, Hamadoun Tandina

Mamou Daffe, opening speech.
Director, Mamou Daffé
Minister.
Ministre, ..

Hamadoun Tandina, story teller.
Hamadoun Tandina.
Hamadoun Tandina, story teller.
A saint.

Hamadoun Tandina describes himself as a "bag full of words, tales, poems and songs". Others say "travelling ambassador of African culture", "a pupil of the big school of mother nature", ... , anyway he gave a great satirical speech about abandoning everything from egoism to racism and politicians to dictators to judges to customs officers and ...

He speaks on the last (4th) day of the festival as well. And as the picture shows (at night) he is a saint.

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Donsow strolling, Quay of Arts

Donsow (hunters), and old powerful brotherhood, where teachings are passed from master to disciple, from one generation to the next. Their esoteric teachings are based on knowledge of the character of animals, the healing power of plants and the learning of magical incantations.

They are feared and respected by everyone, as therapists who drive out bad spirits. The founding of empires can be attributed to Donsow.

Donsow come to the show carrying rifles from the last century and they are not just carrying them.

Donsow chief.
Chief of the Donsow.
Head of a younger Donsow.
Eyes closed, sensing nature.

Donsow group appears slowly, musicians, hunters.
Donsow, carrying rifles and koras.
Donsow hunter with rifle against blue sky.
Hunter and rifle.
Donsow hunter with rifle against blue sky.
Front loading and Peng!...

2 Donsow hunters with rifles.
... cause people to jump in terror.
Donsow group of 3 elder.
Moving cautiously slowly, ....
Donsow group of 3 elder.
... just as they do when hunting.

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Korédugaw, strolling Quay of Arts.

A differnt lot then the Donsow, their ritual behaviours carry other characteristics. They are funny (clowns), behave comically and use obscene language, they sometimes wear womens' clothes and false jewellery, and eat as much as they can all the time ...

They have been peace keepers in times of conflicts, rainmaker in times of drought, bring good fortune in general ...

They are untouchable, allowed to do anything, enjoy unlimited respect.

Koredugaw chief.
Koredugaw, looks like he's the chief.
Koredugaw.
laughing.
Koredugaw chief on a different day.
Chief again.
Koredugaw 2 Calabash.
Marching in with 2 Calabash.

Koredugaw women.
Women join in ...
Koredugaw women.
A dance with a calabash ...
Koredugaw woman.
Cheerful, exuberant, ...
Koredugaw white man is pert of group.
White guy...
Koredugaw group of women watching, clapping.
Women watching.
Koredugaw women dancing.
Nothing can stop them.
Koredugaw women dancing.
The heat is growing.
Koredugaw woman with wistle.
Not just from the sun overhead.

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Masks and Puppets

Dance with high jumps, action inside the tent.
Action inside the tent.
Masks and puppets/animals and characters.
Masks and puppets/animals and characters.

Big guy.
Rainy season, harvest, circumcision events.
Women dance inside the tent.
Every group includes dancers,
Women dance inside the tent.
drummers and musicians.

Women dance inside the tent.
Bina Coumaré, and Soku.

I cannot distinguish yet between a Soku, one string violin, and a Njarka, one string violin, or maybe it is the same instrument called differently in different parts or the country or in different languages. Or maybe a Soku is made of callabash or ... and a Njarka seems to be smaller ...

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Decorated by Fire

Crowd on beach waiting for the show to start.
Crowd on beach waiting for the start of the concerts.
Fire installation.
Arty.

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