Wednesday, April 15, 2009
Women from Mayotte at Fes Festival of World Sacred Music
Helen Ranger admits to having to look up exactly where Mayotte is. She finds it's a small island of less than 200 000 people, near the Comoros in the Indian Ocean half way between northern Madagascar and northern Mozambique. Somewhat neglected by its French parent, the island is a favourite holiday destination for the French who love its beautiful beaches and dive sites, though prices (in Euros) are high.
At this year's Festival, the Deba women's group will perform songs, dances and Sufi rituals at 16h30 on Tuesday 2 June at the Batha Museum. Here's a sneak preview:
The most popular dance of Mayotte is called the wadaha (or danse de pilon) in which women and young girls dance in a circle around a mortar filled with rice, to the rhythm of drums, guitars and popular songs, simulating the pulverisation of the rice with pestles. It can also be a pre-nuptial dance.
Subscribe to:
Post Comments (Atom)
1 comment:
Hello,
I'm conducting feminist research on how American foreign policy affects popular support for terrorism. I’m particularly interested in incorporating the views of women, non-whites, and people living outside of America and Western Europe, but all responses are invited and welcome. The survey can be accessed at
http://www.johnmaszka.com/SURVEY.html
I would really value your opinion and the opinion of your readers. Please take a moment and fill out the survey. The long-term goal of this project is to facilitate a more diplomatic American foreign policy in the years ahead.
Thank you,
John Maszka
Post a Comment