Wam Kara's first album release project launched today!

Just an update, the project to release Wam Kara's first cd has just launched on Kickstarter. Please check it out at www.kickstarter.com/projects/1003034960/wam-karas-first-album-release. And please donate, even a few dollars, if you are able! The project will be up there for 40 days. Teh listed goal is $1000, which will allow them to produce CDs, but we are really going for $1800, to be able to produce the CDs at a better quality. Please let me know if you have any questions or comments!

See post from March 5th for more info!

Last day in Cameroon

Today I'm heading to the airport in Douala in about 5 hours! I had a nice, but somewhat alone last night in Cameroon, getting here at 4 pm and not knowing what to do with myself!. I ate one last plate of Ndole and plantains at the restaurant next door, and then called different friends from Garoua and Mafa Kilda say goodbye, took a wonderful shower, and watched tv--trace and a hausa soap opera. Ha.

Heading out of Yaounde

Well, I'm taking the bus for Douala in about an hour. I'll spend the night in Douala and then fly out of Cameroon tomorrow afternoon! I am heading to Ethiopia for a week, to see one of my high school and college friends who is a foreign service officer at the embassy in Addis Ababa. She has been there for about 2 years now and I'm excited to see her world there as well as a bit of the capital and other areas! Then I will head on home, arriving the 16th. Just in time for Spring!

Help Release Wam Kara's first album

Before I leave here, and get back, and might start to lose some of my readership, I wanted to tell you all about an initiative I'm undertaking to support some of my friends here, talented musicians in a group called Wam Kara, in Garoua.

Of the two years I spent in Garoua, their group was one of the best I heard. They have been together for four years now, but have not been able to release/produce their album (which is already recorded). In fact, in 2008, they were chosen through a panel of judges, to represent the North Province for the music catagory of the Festival of Arts and Culture held in Maroua. At the Festival, the representatives of each of the 10 regions in Cameroon competed, and Wam Kara won best music group. From this, the ministry of culture was supposed to give them a cash prize as well as a trophy/award. On top of that, they should have helped them pay for releasing their album and set up a tour. But, none of those three things ever happened (for any of the groups in fact). So they are there, blocked from being able to be known in the rest of Cameroon and advance as a group.

As a fellow artist as well as a friend of members in the group, I hate to see them discouraged like this, and talking about the pointlessness of continuing, without any hope for the future. They feel that if they can just release their album, it will help get their name out there, help them get other gigs set up, and raise a bit of money through tours and the sale of the albums. So, I want to help them out. I will be mounting a fundraising project for the release of their album on the website Kickstarter.com. It is a website that helps raise money for artistic endeavors, combining patronage with commerce. People set up projects which can be donated to by anyone online. Usually, in exchange for a donation, there are gifts. First of all check out the website, because its a great site with some great projects! Second, check back here in the near future, or contact me directly, and I will send you the link for our project. It will only be posted for about 30 days. In that time, we will have to raise all of the $1,000 we are hoping for in pledges, or nothing will be given. So feel free to help out, even with a $1 donation! Its a great way to help support some great Cameroonian musicians as well as the Cameroonian music scene!

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Update March 24th: the project was launched today on Kickstarter. Please go online to www.kickstarter.com/projects/1003034960/wam-karas-first-album-release in order to pledge donations! It will be up there for 40 days, and it's an all or nothing deal, so if we don't reach our goal we don't get any of the funds pledged. We have listed $1,000 as our goal, but we are really hoping for $1,800 in order to produce the CDs at a better quality. Our donations can go above and beyond our listed goal, so if we're over $1,000, don't hesitate to pledge. Even a $1 a person helps move us forward! We are counting on your support!

Augusto Kara playing Calabash percussion

The Moloru, a traditional 3 string lute

Gonging out Ceremony

Wednesday, Grover and I had our "gonging out" ceremony. This is somewhat of a Peace Corps Cameroon tradition, where people who are COSing, right before leaving, have a little ceremony with the Country Director, Program Director and any other staff or volunteers who are around. The gonging calls everyone together and highlights certain moments. During this time the Program Director shares with everyone a little about the volunteers work, and anyone shares any memories or comments about the volunteer, a bit of a hot seat situation. We also have a chance to speak as volunteers. Then certificates are handed out and the Peace Corps Cameroon pin (which we are all encouraged to wear to any job interviews). While usually there are 4 or 5 volunteers, it was only Grover and me COSing this week, which was nice. We came in together, both as agroforestry volunteers, and both of us extended 3 months. We went through the process of our medical clearance and other administration paperwork and interviews together. He flew out last night.

David Tiamadjo and "the gong"

Country Director Lahoma Romocki

Getting language level certificates

Country Director Lahoma Romocki, Agroforestry Program Director Tiki Theophile Manga, and Program and Training Officer Kim Ahanda

Agroforestry Ho'yay

(stop talking to donkeys)