Category Archives: Blog

Emily O'Dell taking a break while motorcycling in the Middle East

On a cycle the frame is gone. You’re completely in contact with it all. You’re in the scene, not just watching it anymore, and the sense of presence is overwhelming.

― Zen and the Art of Motorcycle Maintenance

Emily O'Dell motorcycling through the Middle East...

For several months now, I’ve been on the road in Africa and the Middle East (and soon on to Asia!), having a host of new adventures…more updates to come soon on my archaeology endeavors, academic talks, writing publications, arts initiatives, and volunteer projects with refugees and young cancer patients–more to come soon!

Emily O'Dell at Olduvai Gorge, the "Cradle of Mankind" and site of the Leakey excavations, in Tanzania

Before giving a lecture in Tanzania on the excavations of the Leakey family at Olduvai Gorge (as well as the work of Leakey’s Angels: Jane Goodall, Dian Fossey & Birutė Galdikas), I visited Oldupai Gorge to discuss the latest finds at the site.

Emily O'Dell with elephants while leading a safari at Lake Manyara in Tanzania

Growing ever more passionate about the protection and preservation of Africa’s wildlife, I visited the David Sheldrick Wildlife Trust in Kenya to visit baby elephant and rhino orphans rescued from poachers, after guiding a safari filled with many lions and baby elephants in the wild. The two week year old elephant in this picture was just featured in National Geographic: http://ngm.nationalgeographic.com/2011/09/orphan-elephants/siebert-text/1.

Petting baby elephant orphans in Kenya...(Photo: Emily O'Dell)

To foster one of these precious baby elephant orphans, please visit: http://www.sheldrickwildlifetrust.org. To learn more about the work of Dame Daphne Sheldrick, czech out the film “Born to be Wild,” narrated by Morgan Freeman.

Emily O'Dell visiting elefriends while leading a safari in Tanzania

Emily O'Dell meeting with a Masai medicine man in Kenya

For book research, I met this summer with a number of traditional healers in the Middle East and Africa.  I’m looking forward to sharing the fruit of my research with readers soon!

Emily O'Dell meeting with Masai warriors in Kenya

Emily O'Dell making new friends in Tanzania

This August, I spent time visiting Masai, Iraqw, and Chagga tribal villages in Kenya and Tanzania, and made many new friends…both small and tall…

Emily O'Dell speaking with Masai children in a Kenyan village

Most Iraqw believe in the immortality of the soul, and a cosmos dominated by Lo’a, a good spirit, and Netlangw, an evil spirit.

Emily O'Dell with the creator of this beautiful Iraqw wedding outfit in Tanzania

On April 23rd, Emily helped to teach a gamelan workshop to Hofstra University students at the Indonesian Consulate.

On April 21st, Emily gave a talk at Columbia University entitled, “The Era of Turkmenistan’s Great Renaissance: Iranian and Turkmen Foreign Relations” on a panel with Alexander Cooley, George Gavrilis, Henry Hale, and Payam Foroughi.

Playing my part at Asia Society...

Mas Purbo is one of only a very few dalang [puppeteers] who at the same time are first-rate performers of the classical style, but also put forth an original and fresh interpretation of the Mahabharata stories…I am truly impressed by him…He never over-acts.

— Goenawan Mohamed (founder of Tempo magazine and author of the weekly Catatan Pinggir)

The reviews of our gamelan concert–are in, and even the the Village Voice enjoyed the show. To watch our gamelan concert and Mas Purbo Asmoro’s epic Javanese shadow puppet performance at Asia Society, please click here.

The reviews are in – looks like the Obama puppet was an audience fave!

http://www.artsjournal.com/jazzbeyondjazz/2012/03/obama-at-javanese-shadow-puppet-show-asia-society.html

http://blogs.villagevoice.com/music/2012/03/ki_purbo_asmoro_wayang_kulit_asia_society_march_16.php

Come see our celebrated Javanese gamelan group, Gamelan Kusama Laras–fresh off of the success of our sold-out concert at Lincoln Center–play pre-show background pre-show music at THE STONE this week-end. The Stone is located at the corner of Ave. C and 2nd street. Admission is $10 per set at the door. We will be placing twice each night–i.e. before and in between sets.

On FRIDAY, December 16th, the band will be Moss of Aura.
On SATURDAY, December 17th, the band will be Bright Moments/Kelly Pratt.
On SUNDAY, December 18th, the band will be Lucky Dragons.
PLEASE NOTE: We will be playing from 7:45 pm – 8 pm each night and in between sets as well.
If you can’t catch this informal gamelan jam, definitely get tickets before they are sold out for our March 16th shadow puppet play performance at Asia Society with one of Indonesia’s most famous puppeteers! Tickets can be purchased at this link: http://asiasociety.org/calendars/javanese-wayang-kulit-shadow-puppet-theater-indonesia