Africa is coming to campus.
World-renowned Gambian musician and oral historian Alhaji Papa Susso will perform a free concert today in the EMU Amphitheater. Stephen Wooten, University professor of anthropology, organized the event in an effort to showcase different aspects of African culture to the campus.
“This is a very nice way to highlight Africa, which is something this campus could use more of,” he said.
Wooten teaches a University class on the peoples of West Africa. He originally planned on having Susso speak to his class, but the intention broadened with a potential to reach the greater University community.
“I wanted to bring [Susso] to a wider audience than the classroom,” Wooten said. “He is a significant, world-class performer. It’s wonderful that we can make this event available to the public.”
Susso is a master Kora player, according to the Kennedy Center’s African Odyssey Web site. Along with his skills on the Kora, he is also an oral historian, virtuoso and director of Koriya Musa Center for Research in Oral Tradition.
During his performance Susso will sing and play his Kora — a 21-string African harp-flute. The Kora was invented by the Susso family of the Mandinka tribe of the great Manding Empire, according to the Manding Music and Dance Limited organization. The Kora is a stringed harp-flute that is unique to the western part of Africa, and was typically used in performances before members of the royal courts.
Susso has traveled around the world during his career, performing throughout Africa, the Middle East, Europe, Asia, Canada and the United States.
Through his music and storytelling, Susso attempts to bring a message of peace and love to his audience, according to the Kennedy Center.
In 1991, Susso was appointed as Regents’ Lecturer in Ethnomusicology at the University of California, Santa Barbara. As listed in the program’s mission statement, the program is designed to bring distinguished leaders in the arts, sciences, business and politics to campus.
Wooten encourages fans of African music and the casual observer to attend the concert.
“This is a wonderful chance for students to expose themselves to music and culture that they can’t always find in the University community,” he said.
The concert begins at noon and is open to the public. In the event of rain, the performance will be held in the Fir Room of the EMU.
Musician fills African void
Daily Emerald
May 10, 2000
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