Remembering the Elders

The child looks everywhere and often sees nought; but the old man sitting on the ground sees everything.    –Wolof

One of the most important natural resources that a community has is its elders. It is said that a long life brings wisdom. An elder is a repository for a lifetime of learning and experience as well as for the wisdom gained from his or her elders. So a physically long life, by linking to previous generations adds cultural, historical and spiritual length to a physically long life. And because during their lifetime elders have welcomed many when they entered the world and have bid farewell to many who have departed, elders know their communities. This is why they are and should be revered. To gain knowledge from an elder, to have the opportunity to listen to or converse with an elder, and take in the wisdom that such an exchange will bring, is a special thing. But it is an even greater blessing when one can sit in the shadow of an elder, even if only for a brief time. To share space with an elder during moments of quiet reflection, to feel the wake of their energy, amassed over their lifetime, washing over you, and through you, informing you and enriching you with its power. This is special. As we start the new year The Géwël Tradition Project would like to remember all of the elders who have made a transition from this plane, especially Elhadji Moussa Faye and Nelson Madiba Mandela.

Elhadji Moussa Faye

Nelson Mandela

A parent dies in the body, but not in the minds of the children.  –Ganda

 

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Moustapha Faye – the Sing Sing Experience 2013

In addition to teaching university students during his time as Artist in Residence, Moustapha has also shared the power and joy of the Sing Sing Experience with a variety of young people in the Greater Boston area. These are a few photos of Moustapha at work.

Cambridge School of Weston, Weston, MA

Moustapha teaching drums to students at the Cambridge School of Weston.

Moustapha teaching drums to students at the Cambridge School of Weston.

Students at the Cambridge School of Weston in sabar drum class.

Students at the Cambridge School of Weston in sabar drum class.

The Gold School, Brockton, MA

Moustapha and students at the Gold School.

Moustapha and students at the Gold School.

Moustaph and students at the Gold School.

Students at the Gold School.

Whether taking a drum class or a dance class with Moustapha, the students all had a wonderful experience.

 

 

 

 

 

 

Moustapha Faye: Artist in Residence, 2013

Moustapha Faye has been Artist in Residence and Instructor for the Black Studies Program at Suffolk University in Boston during the month of April. The residency was established through a partnership between the Black Studies Program and the Géwël Traditon Project (see previous post for a history of this relationship). Below are some photos of the Moustapha and his class.

Moustapha teaching students in the sabar dance class.

Moustapha leading students in the sabar dance class.

Students in the sabar dance class.

Students in the sabar dance class.

Students in the sabar dance class prepare to present what they learned.

Moustapha preparing students to present what they learned.

Sabar dance class 2013

History of the Géwël Tradition Project and the Black Studies Program at Suffolk University

 

2001

Sabar Dance Workshop, organized by Kevin King and Moustapha Faye,

offered in Senegal at the Suffolk University Dakar Campus. (Spring 2001)

Students dance at first sabar dance workshop, Suffolk University Dakar Campus.

Dance teacher Aisatou and drummers Moustapha Faye and Malick Ngom (front) with Sipho Bellinger and Nailah Randall Bellinger, after class.

2002

Sabar: The Music and Dance of Senegal, organized and taught by

Professor Robert A. Bellinger, Kevin King and Moustapha Faye, first offered

for academic credit at the Suffolk University Dakar Campus. (August 2002)

Suffolk students in sabar dance class in Dakar.

(l-r) Malick Ngom, Doudou Faye, Kevin King, Moustapha Faye and Suffolk students taking drum class in Dakar.

2003

Sabar Dance Workshop, organized by Professor Robert A. Bellinger and

taught by Lamine Touré, presented by the Collection of African American Literature and the Black Studies Program at Suffolk University, Boston. (Fall 2003)

2004

Sabar Dance Workshop, organized by Professor Robert A. Bellinger and

taught by Lamine Touré, presented by the Collection of African American Literature and the Black Studies Program at Suffolk University, Boston. (Fall 2004)

2005

Sabar: The Music and Dance of Senegal, taught by Professor Robert

A. Bellinger and Lamine Touré, first offered for academic credit by the Black Studies Program at Suffolk University, Boston. (Spring 2005)

2006

Sabar: The Music and Dance of Senegal, taught by Professor Robert

A. Bellinger and Lamine Touré, offered for academic credit by the Black Studies Program at Suffolk University, Boston. (Spring 2006)

Suffolk students presenting the dances they learned in class.

2007

Sabar: The Music and Dance of Senegal, taught by Professor Robert

A. Bellinger and Lamine Touré, offered for academic credit by the Black Studies Program at Suffolk University, Boston. (Spring 2007)

2008

Sabar: The Music and Dance of Senegal, taught by Professor Robert

A. Bellinger and Lamine Touré, offered for academic credit by the Black Studies Program at Suffolk University, Boston. (Spring 2008)

Lamine Touré teaching sabar dace class at Suffolk.

Sing Sing Faye, Moustapha Faye, Aziz Faye and Malick Ngom are

Suffolk University Distinguished Visiting Scholars and Artists in Residence for the Black Studies Program at Suffolk University, Boston. (April 2008)

Aziz and Lamine Diallo explaining the sabar drum

2009

Sabar: The Music and Dance of Senegal, taught by Professor Robert

A. Bellinger and Moustapha Faye with Aziz Faye and Malick Ngom, offered

for academic credit at the Suffolk University Boston Campus. (Fall 2009)

Moustapha Faye, Aziz Faye and Malick Ngom are Suffolk University Distinguished Visiting Scholars and Artists in Residence for the Black Studies Program at Suffolk University, Boston. (October – December 2009)

Celebrate Senegal, a conference on the sabar tradition of Senegal,

presented through lectures, films, demonstrations, classes, workshops and

performances is presented by the Black Studies Program at Suffolk University, Boston. (October -December 2009)

Moustapha (center) with Malick (right) and Kimani (left).

Aziz leads the dancers from the dance class. (Prestige Image)

Before the show. (Photo by Ken Martin)

Celebrate Senegal Conference Poster

2011

Sabar: The Music and Dance of Senegal, taught by Professor Robert A. Bellinger offered for academic credit by the Black Studies Program at Suffolk University, Boston. (Spring 2011)

Suffolk students dancing sabar in class.

Suffolk Student dancing sabar in class.

Suffolk Student dancing sabar in class.

2012

Sabar: The Music and Dance of Senegal, taught by Professor Robert

A. Bellinger and Moustapha Faye with Nogaye Ngom and Malick Ngom, offered for academic credit by the Black Studies Program at Suffolk University, Boston. (Spring 2012)

Moustapha Faye, Nogaye Ngom and Malick Ngom are Artists in Residence for the Black Studies Program at Suffolk University, Boston. (October -December 2009)

Nogaye teaching Suffolk University students at the Jeanette Neil Dance Studio.

Moustapha instructing students in sabar drumming in the Donahue Building, Suffolk University.

Pape Faye, Malick Ngom and Moustapha Faye.

2013

Sabar: The Music and Dance of Senegal, taught by Professor Robert

A. Bellinger and Moustapha Faye, offered for academic credit by the Black Studies Program at Suffolk University, Boston. (Spring 2013)

Moustapha Faye is Artist in Residence for the Suffolk University Black

Studies Program at Suffolk University, Boston. (October – December 2009)

Moustapha Faye teaching dance to students at Suffolk University.

Moustapha Faye preparing dance students for Celebration of Senegal.

In Memory of Abdulaye Bậll, April 19, 2013

Abdoulaye Bậll

A kind spirit with a gentle, caring heart,

with an infectious laugh that reflected the joy he found in life,

and a voice that embodied the drums that he loved so much.

His presence will be missed but he will remain in our collective memories.

Abdoulaye Bậll and Moustapha Faye

(front l-r) Abdoulaye Bậll, Vieux Sing Faye, Moussa DIang, Moustapha Faye. (back row l-r) Lamine Faye, Bakari Diom, El Hadji Moussa Faye, Papa Chas Faye ad Isma Aw.

Dance Class with Nogaye Ngom, April 2012

This i a video of the dance class that Nogaye Ngom taught to the students who were enrolled in the class Sabar: The Music and Dance of Senegal atSsuffolk University during the month of April 2012. Nogaye created choreography to a bakk that was played by her uncle Moustapha Faye and brother Malick Ngom. The choreography/bakk while based on traditional sabar dance movements also incorporated some of the most recent popular dances in Senegal such as yousa representing the fact that sabar is a living art form that is both traditional and modern at the same time.

Stay tuned for more videos soon.

Sing Sing at Teranga Restaurant, April 29, 2012

On Sunday, April 29 Moustapha, Nogaye and Malick, along with Pape Faye, played a sabar party at Teranga Restaurant in Boston’s South End. There were quite a few people who came for the party and quite a few who came for the food and had the extra benefit of the party. At any rate, bringing sabar drums to a Senegalese restaurant was a natural combination that added the a fitting ambiance.

Nogaye and Malick relax before the party.

Moustapha plays outside of Teranga.

Mloustapha and Pape Faye play outside of Teranga.

Sarah joins the drummers.

Playing at Teranga.

Marie-Claude, owner of Teranga Restaurant, dances to the rhytms.

Dancing to the drums.

Nogaye dancing at Teranga.

Sarah dances to the sabar drums.

Marie-Claude takes time to dance.

The Sing Sing Tradition, April 28, 2012

Moustapha plays Tagumbar.

The residency of the Sing sing family ended with  a concert performance at Suffolk University’s C. Walsh Theater. Moustapha, Nogaye and Malick were joined by long time friend, Pape Faye. In the true spirit of the African Tradition the concert was an interactive event with lots of give and take between the musicians/dancer and the audience and with audience members taking to the stage to dance to the rhythms of the sabar drums.

Pape Faye, Malick Ngom and Moustapha Faye.

Malick Ngom.

Nogaye Ngom dances to the drums.

Nogaye takes flight.

Nogaye dances Youza.

Malick plays cól mbundow.

Nogaye joins in on drums.

Malick's signature dance move.

Pa Seck joins Nogaye on stage.

Pa Seck joins Nogaye on stage.

Malick plays nder.

Pape Faye.

A student dances on stage.

A student dances on stage.

A student dances on stage.

Members of the audience dance on stage.

 

CELEBRATION OF SENEGAL, April 26, 2012

The Celebration of Senegal is the end of semester performance by the students in the sabar dance class (BLKST 263/THETR 263). This provides the students the opportunity to share what they have learned with friends and the university community. It is a great way to end the semester and celebrate the sabar tradition that the Sing Sing family shared with Suffolk University.

Sing SIng in New York, 2012

Moustapha, Nogaye and Malick made a visit to New York to visit relatives and while there taught a class for cousin Babacar Mbaye. The dancers brought a wonderful energy and passion to the class and made it a memorable experience.

Nogaye teaching dance class for Babacar Mbaye in New York.

Nogaye teaching dance class.

Nogaye teaching dance class for Babacar Mbaye in New York.

Babacar Mbaye.

Malick and Moustapha play for Babacar Mbaye's dance class, New York.

Nogaye leads dancers.

Nogaye dancing at Babacar Mbaye's dance class in New York.

 

Student enjoying sabar dance.

Moustapha solos for Marissa.

Meghan dances the steps learned in class.

Rochelle dances to Moustapha's drum.

The joy of dancing sabar.

Dionne enjoying the dance.

Nogaye dances solo.