Mariam Makeba sings in Brighton and exclusively..... speaks about Darfur

I was very lucky , yesterday , putting in mind I haven’t booked my tickets earlier … when I went to the box office and the lady there said smiling ‘’ I am sorry sold out’’ …. my face illustrated great disappointment while I turned towards the glassy gate … Then a young lad from behind the counter asked me to stay for few minutes …. Saying there was someone who wanted to resold a single ticket I felt relieved so I waited anxiously ……. I saw out side the theatre a lot of people who , unfortunately couldn’t get tickets…. Then I saw one of friends collecting her tickets from the box office and she told me that there is a spare one ….. I was as happy as a child …… I took the ticket ‘’ single’’ and dashed into the theatre …… It wasn’t my first time to attend a show in the Brighton Dome theatre so, I hurried to the cafeteria inside the building and tried to get myself something to eat …. It was a bit early for the show to start so I had a chat with a lady from Gambia ….. Then they announced that the first show ‘’ Seiko Keita Band’’ was about to start …… I found my seat easily beside two young girls who I never thought I would meet as they are very young to know Mama Africa….. The gig started and surprisingly , the band did great, they were chased by applauds from the spectators after every song specially the last one.. the band Consisted of five members :- a very talented violinist from Egypt called Sami - two vocalists: Seiko plus a girl - Ferari from Italy on the Base Guitar and on the drums Sura from Gambia …… I met them all afterwards.. they told me that they’re having a tour this year to reflect the hidden African Musical Instruments …… In the break between the shows I met an old man -almost in his sixties - who told me that he loves music and he came all the way from Eastbourne (40 klm from Brighton) to watch Mama Africa . He also added ‘’I know people from Hampshire who travelled all the way to here to attend as well’’…I asked him about how can he understands the African music he said ‘’ music doesn’t need translation , it speaks to hearts ‘’ I asked him if he had listened to Sudanese music replied ‘’ I haven’t , but it is the responsibility of the Sudanese artists to export their music to the world ‘’.Then they announced the beginning of the second venue ….. I went inside to find the theatre is all on feet cheering ,whistling, clapping and dancing nobody was sitting….. Mama Africa 76 years old was singing as 19 years old …. What a legend !! She sang 4 songs and came back to perform the fifth one after the crowd cried for more ……. I went out and waited until she came on a wheel chair and then I asked her son to sign an autograph for one of my friends: Dimitrina from Bulgaria who saw her the first time in 1978 in Sofia and since the she’s started collecting autographs . Dimitrina told me that she couldn’t get tickets but she was waiting out side since 9o’clock…another man who was carrying her photo ‘’ I mean Mariam’s photo’’ told me he was waiting since 3 o’clock and he collects autographs for a charity as well as for him…. He was very happy when Mama Africa signed on her photo …. He told me then ‘’ that made my day’’…… On the front seat in the car Mariam Makeba was sitting when I had a chat with her she said she is very sad of what happening in South Africa at present…. I asked her do you have any words for Darfurian people she asked me ‘’ are you from Darfur ?’’ I replied ‘’no I am from the north but I support Darfurian people … she then said’’ It is your fight young people your big case ….. Peace is not something you can get easily …. Youth people you can solve it ….. I am 76 I am going to die sooner or later may be today maybe tomorrow …. But you should keep on fighting for your case ……’’ and then I recorded the coming conversation ….

(Edited by Osama Mohammed on 05-22-2008, 03:48 PM)

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