Experience Tour to Guinea
including workshop with IBRO KONATÉ (among others) 11.12.2006 - 05.01.2007
In Guinea – a former French Colony – today live many different ethnic groups respectively nations with a still living culture. One of them are the Malinké (approx. 25 %). The Konaté family belongs to the Malinké and their interesting musical culture has become famous worldwide through celebrities like Famoudou Konaté and Mamady Keita.
The Country itself impresses with a variety of gorgeous, beautiful landscapes.But the main attraction is the people of Guinea who meet poverty and every day life with composure, social competence, passionate temperament and a lot of humour.
Everyone feels almost immediately at home because of the outgoing openness and hospitality you meet here everywhere.
Conakry
The capital is situated at the coast and is the cultural centre of the country. You can find all kinds of ethnics her. Many famous artists life and work in Conakry.
Ibro’s house in Simbaya
The most time of your stay you’ll spend at Ibro’s house in Simbaya. Apart from intensive training you’ll find numerous possibilities to test your skills at spontaneous sessions. Furthermore Ibro organizes concerts at his house. Many famous musicians and dancers have settled in the quarter of
the town among others also Famoudou Konaté. It is also scheduled to visit several artists and ballets. Not a day passes without the possibility to attend a traditional festivity or a spontaneous session.
For many years now Ibros door is open for people from all over the world, who want to learn about the music of the Malinké.
Sangbarala
The 5-day-trip (including journey there and back) to Sangbarala, approx. 600 km away from Conakry,give you the possibility to experience a village day to day life, to meet musicians and to attend the Mendiani ceremony.
The village is situated directly at the river Niger, which has to be crossed on the journey there.
Roume
The fantastic island of Roume, which will be visited at the end of the tour lies just before the coast of Conakry.Here the participants can once again properly relax.There will be also training courses.
Ibro Konaté
the oldest son of Famoudou Konatè. Ibro Konaté has grown up with the Djembé Culture of the Malinké and has committed himself wholeheartedly to this culture. In Guinea he has been playing for years in different known ensembles as well as a solo artist on small and big events.
Since 1989 he travels through Europe, gives workshops and concerts and has found many friends because of his intoxicating way to play the drums. He has already released 3 CDs and also published a book including 2 CDs.Many of the Djembé teachers in Europe and USA are students of Ibro and have visited him in Guinea.
Fode Konaté
also a son of the famous Famoudou Konaté, belongs to the national ballet since decades as soloist. He has been brought up from the very first with Malinké tradition and took over the knowledge of his father.
Sire Konaté
Sire is an enthusiastic and stirring dancer. She is a professional ballet dancer and performs in various ballets in Guinea. She is a brilliant teacher with a very humorous, friendly way and has already been invited to Germany as such.
The participants will be separated into two different levels.
This applies for playing the drums as well as for dancing.
The course will take place at 4 days a week.
Play drums for 3 hours, dancing for 2 hours each day.
Drums Instruction
The advanced scholars will be trained by Ibro Konaté, beginners by Fode Konaté.
Advanced Training
includes the development of different compositions with all the obligatos on the Djembé with the bass parts, arrangements and especially the solo performance.
Advanced students who do not want to take dancing lessons have the possibility to accompany the dancers with music.
Beginners Training
implies the learning of various easy pieces of music with all the obligatos on the Djembé and bass as well as to study the technique of sound, slap and bass, also to make simple arrangements and do a solo.
Dance Class
Sire Konaté is teaching the dance class. Tought are the dances belonging to the drum pieces you learned. The training is accompanied with live music.
To enter Conakry you need a tourist visa. You can apply for the visa by phone. Contact the Embassy of the Republic of Guinea in your country and ask for the application forms which than have to be filled in and send together with your passport to the embassy. The charges for the visa in Germany are 60 €.
Embassy of the Republic of Guinea,Germany
(they may give you the address of the embassy in your own country)
Jägerstr. 67-69
10117 Berlin
Tel.: +49(0)30/20 07 43 30
Fax: +49(0)30/2 00 74 33 33
Email: berlin@ambaguinee.de
The vaccination against Yellow Fever is obligatory. For further vaccinations like malaria prophylaxis get information from your general practitioner or from a doctor for tropical diseases in your area.
If you have questions don’t hesitate to contact us.
The flight to Guinea is not included in the price and has to be arranged by yourself.
The cheap airlines to Conakry are: Air Maroc, SN Brussels, and Air France.You can also take a flight to Dakar/Senegal, which quite often is also low priced. If you wish,we’ll be of assistance.
The charges for the complete 4 weeks all inclusive (workshops, meals, accommodation and journey to Sangbarala and Roume) are 1.100 €.
You can also book only 2 weeks.Either the first part (Simbaya Gare & Sangbarala) or the second
half (Simbaya,Gare & Roume).The price here is 600 €.
You also have the possibility to attend only drumming or only dancing lessons.
The prices vary here as well:
No Class: 150 € a week,
only drumming/dancing: 250 € a week.
Payment as follows:
please transfer the first half of the price when registered to the account stated below.The rest has to be paid on arrival in Conakry by cash.
The journey there will take place on a weekend, at the 9th or the 10th of December 2006 (if requested earlier) in Conakry. Certainly you will get picked up from the airport and brought to Simbaya Gare.
The lessons will start on Monday the 11th and last till the 20st of December (except Saturdays and Sundays) in Simbaya Gare. During this time it is planned to visit a well known musician and a ballet. On Sunday Ibro organizes a Concert at his house.
Wednesday, 20nd of December – Journey to Sangbarala
Sunday, 24th of December – Journey back to Conakry
Monday, 25th of December - Friday, 29st of December lessons at Simbaya, at 31st Party and Concert at Ibro's
Sunday, 31th of December – journey to Roume. There will be lessons on Monday,Tuesday and Wednesday
Friday, 5th of January 2007 is your final day in Simbaya Gare. You'll have no training courses. The whole day will be to your own disposal and you can do some final shopping if you like. In the evening the students give a concert for the neighbourhood where they can present their newly learned skills. There is also a concert with some local musicians planned that night.
Sunday, 6th of January and Sunday, 7th of January – Journey home
(If you want to stay longer you have to pay extra charge)
The programme is subject to minor changes.
Registration and Information:
Download registration, print it, sign it and send it to:
Ibro Konate
Bürgerbuschweg 24 a
26127 Oldenburg
Germany
Tel.: +49(0)174 / 81 93 959
ibro@konate.de
LZO Landessparkasse zu Oldenburg
Ibrahima Konate
Kt.Nr.: 1158997, BLZ: 28050100