Category Archives: Blog

Through technique, technology and open ears, Mr. Kouyate hurls the ngoni into the 21st century.

—The New York Times

Bassekou Kouyate
Thursday, October 30, 7:00 p.m
The Metropolitan Museum of Art
The Grace Rainey Rogers Auditorium

One of Africa’s greatest instrumentalists, Bassekou Kouyate is joined by his band Ngoni Ba for an acoustic program that reveals the softer sounds of Malian music. Bassekou is a virtuoso picker and is renowned for his mastery of the ngoni, an ancient traditional “spike lute” and an ancestor of the banjo.

This program is part of the Mali Now festival celebrating contemporary Malian music, culture, and politics. For more information, please click here.

“Children of the Light” features the life story of 1984 Nobel Peace Prize Winner, Archbishop Desmond Tutu and the crucial role he played in bringing about the miracle in South Africa. The film takes us around the globe to see the work of five young activists and leaders who were inspired and formed by the example of Desmond Tutu, and who are now creating social change in their own communities — in Peru, in Burma, in East Timor, in India, and in South Africa. The film is narrated by Desmond Tutu’s daughter, Naomi Tutu.

From archaeology to meditation, my trip to Goa Gajah–a spiritual center for Hindus and Buddhists–was all-consuming…

Ever since studying Balinese masked performance at Brown University with Professor John Emigh, I’ve been a big fan of the “old man” in Balinese topeng–and was grateful for the chance to see this character performed in person in Ubud…

During the day, I wandered through the grounds of Ubud Palace, and returned at night to watch a riveting Legong and Balinese gamelan performance under the stars…

On my way to yoga class in Ubud, I stopped by Pura Taman Saraswati to admire the temple’s beautiful lotus blossoms, and carvings of Dewi Saraswati–goddess of wisdom and the arts…

Despite the traffic, I managed to arrive at Tanah Lot just minutes before sunset to photograph the breathtaking temple shaped by the ocean tide…

After a full summer of Fulbright fun in Java, I finally hit the beach this week in Bali–and plunged into paradise…

I can’t wait to wear my new shadow puppet helmet from Java, when I return to cruising the streets of Beirut…