Earlier this week, I emailed congratulations to an Englishman who had put up a video of himself playing the kora. Now I pride myself on knowing quite a lot about kora players and their culture as I have made 25 trips to West Africa, recording Manding musicians. I have released a number of albums of kora music; I have arranged and financed British tours by Gambian jali. He has spent months living in my house practising his kora every day even when I had to drive him to his many gigs. I was very pleased to hear a black Cuban had absorbed Irish musical culture so well. I was very pleased to hear a white Englishman had absorbed Manding musical culture so well. Could I ask Peter Laban what is wrong with that? I felt that there was a sting in the tail of his post ending with I know, it's meant well, but really? and quite frankly, I resent it.
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