Hamanata
Live in Boke, Guinea West Africa
Stay in a welcoming community with wonderful people taking daily trips to the local market, rivers, forests, villages, ceremonies and celebrations, cuisine, kayaking, hiking, daily drum and dance classes, trips to Conakry to visit Kolipe’s new house and compound, participate in large dundunba’s(artists celebrations), larger markets, live concerts, fine dining, and the beach.
Villages…
Markets, traditional fabrics, soaps, oils, healing remedies, hiking, kayaking, cooking and local cuisine, fresh organic vegetables farmed locally, local languages including Su-Su, Landouma, Baga, and wonderful people in the small town of Boke’.
Mabinti was the “parent” of a local intiation ceremony
Ceremonies
Weddings, rites of passage celebrations, naming ceremonies, local dances, and meet influential cultural figures in the Boke’ community.
Djeliba
Music and tradition
West African music and dance is in itself very diverse and exposure to the traditional arts in the town of Boke’ is very different from that of Conakry or taking African dance classes in New York. Come study with people of all different ethnic backgrounds and learn their local nuances. Dance and drum with them in local parties and watch the power of community come alive.
Mabinti Manding.
the women in the Boke community are opening doors for future generations
Alusainey Manding.
Sherece and I traveled and lived with Sainey and his family and friends for 8 months in 2008/09. We started in The Gambia with Sainey and his wife and then we all traveled together to his hometown where he was born and raised in the house his father built in the 1960’s. In a section of Boke’ called “Lemania”, which means courage in the local language of Landouma, we trained every day with local artists rehearsing and building Hamana Company. This small local group consisted of drummers, dancers/singers, and a balafonist all of the highest caliber in town and local areas. For months we worked together creating choreography and musical arrangements and friendships. We were even joined by my cousin who flew from California with 2 microphones and a recording device to make video’s and audio recordings of our work. The entire community embraced the project and the initiative taken by all us to bring more performing arts and professionalism to the area. During that time we taught english to local children, and in turn spent time daily learning several local languages. We visited nearby villages and were blessed with healing remedies and local herbal medicines. We traveled frequently to Conakry to work and live with amazing musicians there participating in Dundumba’s, Guinea Sabar’s, doing gigs in local clubs, eating delicious food, sharing stories, laughing and crying, and we were embraced by multiple communities. It changed our lives forever and we hope to be able to share that experience with you.
Together with the combined forces of Kolipe and his new home in Conakry, Adewole and Bambara’s connections in Guinea from their recent cultural exchange in 2017, and our family connections in Boke’ and Conakry, we intend to provide the best possible trip for those who wish to join us.
Hamana artists
Continue the work
Let’s continue to build and collaborate with the Boke’ community supporting local artists, economies, and educational cultural exchanges
