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Djoliba Crossing (2nd Ed.)
Journeys into West African Music and Culture
Discover the music and culture of West Africa in this beautifully illustrated account of an artist’s adventures in the Niger River valley.
When artist and musician Dave Kobrenski first set out for Guinea, West Africa, it was simply to learn the djembé music of the Malinké people. What he found was a land of ancient traditions where spirits mingle with the living—and where extreme poverty and rampant political corruption are an explosive mixture. When bloody clashes erupt, no traveler is safe. For Kobrenski, the result was a two decade musical adventure that would test his resolve and draw him into a quest of cultural understanding.
Memoir
The master djembéfola—in his own words. Discover the magic and intrigue of West Africa in the long-awaited English version of Famoudou Konaté’s book.
Written by Famoudou Konaté, with Thomas Ott
translated by Dave Kobrenski
Memoirs of an African Musician tells the remarkable life story of Famoudou Konaté, a master of the djembé from Guinea, West Africa. Rooted in the traditions of his Malinké homeland, where music and rhythm are woven into the fabric of life, Konaté takes the reader on a journey deep into African traditions, across continents during a groundbreaking international career, and back again to where it started, to the heart of a culture that has endured through centuries of trials and hardships.
Along the way, Konaté unveils the mysteries of the djembé and its accompanying instruments, revealing rare insights into rhythms, techniques, and the cultural meanings behind the music. Beyond the drum, he offers a portrait of life in Malinké society—its traditions, struggles, and values—while reflecting on his experiences of bridging worlds, from remote Guinean villages to stages around the globe. His story is a testament to resilience, cultural pride, and the universal language of music, inviting readers to experience the rhythms of West Africa in an entirely new way.
Introduction by Professor Thomas Ott.
Translated by Dave Kobrenski, with cultural and historical footnotes.
Reviews
“A rare glimpse into a world seldom seen by outsiders, made all the more special by the fact that it comes to us from the source: an African man writing about African culture. A captivating and unique first-person account that should be on the reading list of anyone interested in African music and culture.”
— Dave Kobrenski, author of Finding the Source and Djoliba Crossing