Check out, for instance, Ali Farka Touré and Toumani Diabate

The stuff is a real treasure-trove, even though few here know of it.

Tzetzes on February 21, 2008 at 5:11 PM

Ali Farka Toure is flat out awesome. Heard him on the BBC a year ago for the first time and I’ve bought everything I can get my hands on. I only wish he were still alive to make more.

From dance to another artform, in my opinion the Malinese music scene is the best one in Africa. I haven’t been there, but all the albums I’ve heard (and there are a lot available) are fantastic: rhythms that take you in, really hypnotic stuff.

Check out, for instance, Ali Farka Touré and Toumani Diabate

The stuff is a real treasure-trove, even though few here know of it.

Correct! Mali has some great musicians, that are world famous. Probably one of the few places in Africa that a white person, or black for that matter, can go walking around at night with no worries.

What was interesting, was that many Malians are french speaking Muslims, but they despise the French and Arabs, and genuinely love America.

The Monster on February 21, 2008 at 6:32 PM

Yep. All of this type of info is available to the person with his/her eyes open.

within a year after its creation, the former slaves in Liberia took up trading in slaves.

Well, here’s another Inconvenient Fact you won’t hear during Black History Month:

Originally, there was an institution of Indentured Servitude, under which someone could pay for his passage to the New World by working as a servant for a certain time. There were indentured servants of all colors. One of them became a successful land owner, and bought out the contract of another servant, then made the claim that he “had ye Negro for his life”. The Virginia court agreed, beginning the institution of chattel slavery in that colony.

The first owner of an black slave in Virginia was himself black

I thought George Bush hated black people.

amerpundit on February 21, 2008 at 2:33 PM

Only the spoiled, clueless American ones.

History will be much kinder to him than most of America has been over the last 7 years (I certainly hope.) He’s done more for the environment than any President ever. He’s reserved the largest amount of land for National Parks of any President ever (including Teddy Roosevelt.) He’s protected our country and reversed the decline of our military. He’s created an alternative energy industry. He has changed the perception of Africa concerning America, and has done more to improve the lives of the world’s impoverished than any President ever. And don’t forget — he brought Democracy to the Middle East and forced America to make a sacrifice for the benefit of others.

And we’re witnessing in his visits to Africa and Armenia and Kosavo, some heart felt gratitude towards the United States, and I’m glad for him.

“We’ll always have Paris.”

Shy Guy on February 21, 2008 at 4:20 PM

Love the movie, Shy Guy, and would like to visit the city some day.

When I worked in Mali (West Africa not far from Liberia) in 2006, the US and Bush were/are very popular. There were US flag decorations all over, and even some Bush ringtones

firepilot on February 21, 2008 at 4:01 PM

From dance to another artform, in my opinion the Malinese music scene is the best one in Africa. I haven’t been there, but all the albums I’ve heard (and there are a lot available) are fantastic: rhythms that take you in, really hypnotic stuff.

Check out, for instance, Ali Farka Touré and Toumani Diabate

The stuff is a real treasure-trove, even though few here know of it.

cheers!

Drive on Mr. president.

Michael Moore has Cuba.
Cindy Sheehan has Venezuela.
John Kerry has France.
B. Obama has all of Europe, except Britain.
H. Clinton has Britain.

Entelechy on February 21, 2008 at 3:49 PM

“We’ll always have Paris.”

I’m just glad that Liberia has become safe enough to have the Prez go there for a visit.

“Woo-HOO! Eleven more months and I git to retire back to my ranch for keeps! Then I can work out and sleep as much as I want!”

CP on February 21, 2008 at 3:26 PM

He might’ve said “generation.” I don’t remember. My apologies if I misspoke.

baldilocks on February 21, 2008 at 3:18 PM

I have a hard time watching anything by Spielberg, for that reason. When a fact becomes inconvenient, it will be introduced to the “memory hole.” Should I ever bother to watch Amistad, I’ll enjoy knowing the truth.

President Bush gets funky on the dance floor in Africa. HT: Mary K to the H……