Books, Music, Movies: Oh my!

In case you want to do your own research, here's an incomplete bibliography of sorts...

This summer, instead of practicing my French as I should have (I mean, in addition to this research) I've tried to do some reading on and related to Senegal, as well as watch some Senegalese movies, and listen to some famous musicians. Many of the musicians are famous enough that I was already listening to them without realizing they are Senegalese! Fancy that.

Movies

The most famous and prolific Senegalese director was Ousmane Sembene (1923-2007). I found three of his many films at my local library in Arlington, MA- including
"La Noire de..." (Black Girl) (1966),
"Xala" (1975),
and "Moolaade" (2004).
His work explores many social issues facing contemporary Senegal and gives great critique and insight into his culture.
Sembene was actually an author until around age 40 when he realized that movies were the real way to reach most people in a country where illiteracy rates are high. Additionally, Senegal's first president Leopold Senghor was a poet and during the beginning of his term especially he gave a great deal of funding to the arts in Senegal. From my understanding, Sembene somehow benefitted from this.
I read a couple of his books, which are listed in my "books" section.

Also, check out this short documentary (free online!) called "Democracy In Dakar" about the role of hip-hop in the last presidential election. The full set of video shorts is here: http://nomadicwax.com/film/democracy-in-dakar/

Here's the trailor:


Music

Popular music for young people includes rap, r&b, hip-hop, and mbalax (pronounced mbalakh) which developed in the 1970s and incorporated soul, funk, and Cuban music with Wolof (the major language in Senegal) lyrics, local rythms, and the local sabar drum. Today there is greater r&b and hip-hop influences and electric instruments. South American and Carribean sounds are also involved.
Youssou N'Dour has this style, and I've been listening to him. I also have...
Cheikh Lo
Ismael Lo and the more old school
Orchestra Baobab

Some other famous Senegalese musicians and groups include
Baaba Maal
Positive Black Soul
Xalam
MC Solaar and
Akon

Orchestra Baobab video:


Baaba Maal video from 1992. Very cute. Couldn't embed this but here's the link:
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=lv78EPSxbvI

Youssou N'Dour video (made for global consumption, being a superstar and all-it's in French and English):
Couldn't embed this one so you've got to click the link
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=UbBSDE-Dywo

Books

Unfortunately for me I didn't read any of these in French (or Wolof). :)
CIEE, the company that is running my program, suggested some books to participants. Though I didn't read two of them, the rest were great, especially the fiction. I read and skimmed a bunch of other books, but didn't write down the titles before I took them back so regrettfully they aren't listed here. There are some that I do remember and those are here.

CIEE Fiction:
God's Bits of Wood by Ousmene Sembene
So Long A Letter by Mariama Ba
The Beggar's Strike by Aminata Sow Fall
Ambiguous Adventure by Cheikh Hamidou Kane

CIEE Non-Fiction:
The Collected Poetry by Leopold Sedar Senghor
Africa Notebook by C.W. Gusewell
Mandinko: The Ethnography of a West African Holy Land by Matt Schaffer and Christine Cooper
Lonely Planet: The Gambia and Senegal
Muslim Brotherhoods and Politics in Senegal by Lucy Behrman
Islamic Society and State Power in Senegal: Disciples and Citizens in Fatick by Leonardo Villalon
Fighting the Greater Jihad, Amadu Bamba and the Founding of the Muridiyya of Senegal, 1853–1913 by Cheikh Anta Babou
A Saint in the City: Sufi Arts of Urban Senegal by Allen Roberts, Mary Nooter Roberts, and Gassia Armenian
The African Origin of Civilization: Myth or Reality? by Cheikh Anta Diop
The Cultural Unity of Black Africa: The Domains of Patriarchy and Matriarchy in Classical Antiquity by Cheikh Anta Diop
Civilization or Barbarism: An Authentic Anthropology by Cheikh Anta Diop

Other books, mostly indirectly related to Senegal
The Belly of The Atlantic by Fatou Diome (is related to Senegal directly)
Xala by Ousmane Sembene (is related to Senegal directly)
Notebook of a Return to My Native Land by Aime Cesaire
Segu by Maryse Conde
The Wretched of The Earth by Franz Fanon
The Souls of Black Folk by W.E.B. DuBois