Each year from 2004 to 2007, we organised British tours for the great Gambian kora player, Jali Sherrifo Konteh, a musician and person that I have the highest regard for. He is a Manding which must be amongst the blackest of the African ethnic groups. When we are in one another's countries we are both concerned to show one another our traditional cultures so I was delighted to take him to a Bonfire night in Lewes which he loved.
We were also very pleased to have him booked into Tenterden Folk Festival and amongst his heavy schedule, I was able to take him to see the dance displays. On came a very energetic Border Morris side.
"Why do they black their faces, Vic?"
I remember thinking that I would have handle this carefully and I answered, "It's to disguise themselves and to make them all look alike."
"Ah yes," he answered, "Do you remember when I took you to see all those Fula men dancing in that ceremony at Busara? They covered their faces with white river mud. I think they do that for the same reason."
He watched their loud and energetic dances for a while and then asked, "Who is the wildest and the loudest, the Fulas or these people?"
"Not much in it." I answered.
As we walked away, he put on his mock-serious face and pointed a finger at me, (This always means that he has silly comment ready.)
"Look at your watch, It has got a black face. Mine has got a white face." As frequently happens when we are together, we collapsed laughing in each others' arms.