Diamano Coura West African Dance Company

San Francisco International Arts Festival

This original work by one of the Bay Area’s foremost West African dance companies, explores a personal journey and its universal expression in ritual. It blends traditional West African dance with contemporary American influences and features both traditional and pop music from Senegal and Mali. This dynamic suite has four scenes, beginning with, JUSAT, which represents the cyclical stages of life’s trajectory. The piece uses traditional West African dance and music as its focal point, which is enhanced by contemporary moves and music. The next scene, The Birth, is based on an old myth. Mawa, in a thunderous conversation with his demi-gods, sends his strongest, most beautiful, goddesses down to earth to give birth to the children and nations of Africa. The demi-gods bequeath her the power needed to accomplish this; a piercing scream is heard as she brings forth the children. The third section, called The Initiation, speaks to the joy and pride experienced by a mother and father when their children have grown up and returned from the secret society as respectable young men or women. Their esteem is both for their children’s coming of age and also for the veneration of the family’s ancestral divinities and connection to nature. In the closing scene, The Harvest depicts the time in a parent’s life to give back to the young people for being so courageous. The community harvests its best crops in preparation of a grand celebration lasting several days with enough crops harvested and animals killed and prepared for the feast to satisfy everyone’s appetite. Audience members are invited to a reception with the artists following the performance.

