‘Bintou Were’ – a Sahel opera – PART 2.
The Dutch prince Claus (1926-2002) once had the idea to have an opera made with musicians from the Sahel region (Senegal, the Gambia, Mauritania, Mali, Niger, Nigeria, and other countries). The opera was indeed made. Unfortunately, prince Claus himself didn’t live to see the day.
Premiere on 17 February 2007 in Bamako (Mali). Dutch premiere on 7 June 2007, Muziekgebouw aan ‘t IJ in Amsterdam.
The story.
Melilla lives in a small village and is a child soldier. She’s pregnant and expecting any moment. Driven by natural disasters, war and dictatorship, she decides to flee to Spain through Morocco. With all the barbed wire around the sahel, this is not as easy as it seems. Still, she manages to flee and her child is born in exile.
Libretto: Koulsy Lamko (Chad) and Wasis Diop (Senegal)
Composer: Zé Manel (Guinea Bissau)
Director: Wasis Diop
In this World Muse the last part of the Sahel Opera.
Furthermore, new African CDs. 
Playlist:
1) Opening tune World Muse (M. Poels)
Duration: 0’58
Title CD: ‘ The sahel Opera’
2) Title track: The forced Marriage (Zé Manel) 20’43
Performing artist: Wasis Diop
Label: Prins Claus Fonds
Title CD: ‘Jude bek’
3) Title track: Dans L’Arene (W. Diop) 4’03
Performing artist: Wasis Diop
Label: Wrasse Records WRASS 218
Title CD: ‘Everything is never quite enough’
4) Title track: Samba le berger (W. Diop) 3’45
Performing artist: Wasis Diop
Label: Wrasse Records WRASS 108
Title CD: ‘Modern Gospel from West Africa’
5) Title track: Chukwuoma Igwe (C. Okafor) 5’38
Performing artist: Chidinma Okafor
Label: ARC EUCD 2186
Title CD: ‘Etoo’
6) Title track: Fofoi (A. Odametey) 4’14
7) Title track: Awula (A. Odametey) 4’00
Performing artist: Adjiri Odametey
Label: Galileo BA004
Title CD: ‘Brakka System’
7) Title track: Hey! Mama Liza (S. Kalmery) 3’30
8) Title track: Sema (S. Kalmery) 5’12
9) Title track: Pesa (S. Kalmery) 4’05
Performing artist: So Kalmery
Label: World Village WVF 479023
Title CD: ‘Live in Paris’
10) Title track: Justice (T. J. Fakoly) 3’46
Performing artist: Tiken Jah Fakoly
Label: Wrasse Records WRASS 230
