Hey guys.

So we arrived in Banjul last friday and was met at the airport by Nial. which was great because I had nothing to think about or worry about.

He already knew a few people and as such we slid straight into the buzz. It didn’t take me long to realise that soon enough everyone knows your name soon enough.

The names of people here are really different and difficult to remember but I’m getting the hang of it now. Some names are easy and even somewhat suspect like “shampoo” and “Jonnie the fixer”.

I’ve been training with Akassa Cissokho a Master drummer and griot. It turns out Seckou Keita’s (the guy I brought to Ireland) mother’s brother. Mad. We’ve been watching them perform nearly every night.

We eat with them every day (out of one big bowl) and watch them train and have little babies hanging out of us and such. So we are part of the family and they look out for us and we help them out too.

We know a lot of the people around where we live and I feel very comfortable. I’m not sure how naive it is but I do feel like we’re getting a great insight into life here because we hang out with people and live outside the touristy parts.

Thank god.

So far I haven’t been sick at all and have been eating local food at stalls etc. There are defo mosquitos about though and one of Akassa’s player had Malaria at the moment.

The food’s been wicked. I’ve been eating a lot of fish which I wouldn’t even normall do (not so much of a choice). I’m getting a taste for it though…

Life here is very hard for people. They have a trememdous capasity for generosity and really look out for each other. I also love the way they interact with each other too. Life is very communal and interactive. Comared with London the day before we arrived it’s a stark contrast.

There’s lot of hassles of the Rastas in the touristy parts but Nial and Dave and our friends dealing with it pretty well, while I find my feet.

We have found a guy who’s driving to Guinea in a few days so will travel
with him and his wife. I got a good buzz off him immediately and so did
everyone else so we’ll probably head down with him soonish…
Anyway I’m outta here it’s hot and sweaty and I really feel like being nowhere near a computer!

James