FESPACO

Arriving in Ouagadougou last Friday there was a nonchalant air of excitement in the dusty crowded streets, as on Saturday the 23rd edition of FESPACO the Pan African Film Festival came to a close.  The coveted Etalon d'or de Yennenga trophy was won by Senegalese filmmaker Alain Gomis for his film Tey, Ajourd'hui

The Burkinabé capital Ouagadougou usually shortened simply to 'Ouaga', always seems to be in a state of being demolished and rebuilt.  In contrast Bobo Dioulasso from where I write now, changes little and as I cycle through the sun bleached streets, people call out to me from their chairs leaning against family compound walls, shops and stalls, in the same place I saw them 2 years ago.

So the work begins! We have been rehearsing every evening and begin recording in the studio next week.  I've been busy working with Moussa on a new arrangement of his composition Les Malfaiteurs, a song urging people to live honestly, including new words in Dioula, French and English.