David Thiaw's Summer Solstice Celebration at Djembe Acres 2003 Gardom Lake, BC

Today in the rain dampened forest of cedar and fern and pine near the rim of the lake friends came to celebrate the birth of a home to bless this new dwelling place and to beckon the solstice. fending off the rain pouring wine slurping tea friends and strangers mingled on common ground and the drumming - above the thunder of the clouds and of rain on the metal roof rose the din of the drumming 30 pairs of hands swelling with the beat hearts racing dancers spinning and giving offering to earth and sky we were one adopted children of Senegal and the thunder of drums rolled on to welcome the summer rains

July 2003

Hello, David,

I participated in this year's storytelling festival in Whitehorse. I was moved by your mask song. It is truly beautiful. I neglected to buy one of your cds, but I noticed when I got home that you have a web site. Thank goodness!

We have masks, totem poles, chests and our ancestors in museums all over the world. Right now there is a group of Haida travelling the word taking the remains of our ancestors back to our homeland. There are ceremonies being done when we take the remains and then again when the remains are taken to our home on Haida Gwaii (the Queen Charlotte Islands).

When you sang this mask song, I cried when I heard it. I thought of my people in a drawer some place in this world. I thought of the masks and totem poles taken without our consent, It bothers me a lot.

Sorry for the long message. Is this song recorded on one of your cds? If so, which one is it on? I will order it online.

Thank you for having such energy in your performances. This is something I will never forget.

All the best to you
-Roberta