The newest one

Monday 16th:
Another 5:30 morning. Visited no less than five communities today: Woroma, Gbahama, Ghaolahun, Gojowo, and Pejawa. Everywhere we went, we were greeted by smiling faces and the occasional pumui and a the rarer Al-Hamdu Lillah. Fambul Tok’s aim for the visits we pay to all these communities is to make sure, that they have understodd the concept of the Peace Tree (basically that each community pics a tree under which they can sit and sort out palaver) and that the Radio Listening Clubs are in place (the communities make recordings of their discussions and these recordings are broadcasted all over the country. Radios are a big thing here since they don’t rely on the very unreliable electricity sources of this country).
Today was also the day of the African Child not completely sure if that’s an official day) which gave extra spunk to Play31 and a lot of applauses for children from the befuddled elders of the communities.
I will have to describe in detail the daily election procedure for what music is played in the car. It normally ends up with hip-hop or reggae, but more on that later. Tomorrow is the last day and night) in the bush. It’s been good!

Tuesday 17th:
Left at six for Bumaru, the village where the very first shot that initiated the war was fired I 1991. The town chief there was supposedly the first rebel (RUF) to be captured by the Sierra Leonean army. After a long Fambuk Tok session and a very succesfull Play31 delivery, we proceeded to Sakiema, Biwaila, and finally Jopolwahun. Those communities finalized our field trip and I must say it was really, really good to be back in Kailahun district. It’s so different from the western area (let alone from Freetown). The idea of using Play31 in the small communities in direct connection with the reconciliation process seems more and more ingenious to me (I can say that because the idea was partly John’s) and I will certainly work on developing that concept. More on that to come some day.
Now, the music in the car: Yesterday I acted as designated dj most of the time which resulted in somewhat of a diversion away from only hip hop and reggae. We touched upon Jan Johansson, the Good, the Bad and the Queen, Malk de Kojn, but finally ended up with Dr. Dre’s 2001 and the Roots collected woks. Good times!