The Center for African Studies presents

Stories of Mali in Words & Music:

* Monique and the Mango Rains author Kris Holloway
* Griot/Jali and kora musician Mady Kouyate

Tuesday, Oct 24th, 2006
7:00 - 9:00 pm
Hale Black Cultural Center
153 W. 12th Ave
OSU Main Campus

Monique and the Mango Rains is the true story of the life and death of a remarkable West African midwife, seen through the eyes of a young Peace Corps Volunteer who worked side-by-side with her, birthing babies and caring for mothers, in a remote village. It is a rare tale of friendship that reaches beyond borders to vividly and irrevocably unite another woman's world with our own.  The author, Kris Holloway, served as a Peace Corps Volunteer in Mali, West Africa from 1989-1991. She holds a MPH from the University of Michigan where she focused her research on maternal and child health. She has used her unique background in writing, public health, and development to further the mission of numerous non-profits and educational institutions including Planned Parenthood, the Western Massachusetts Center for Healthy Communities, and the Greenbelt Movement International. She currently works with the National Priorities Project, a non-profit organization offering citizens and community groups the tools to shape federal budget and policy priorities that promote social and economic justice.

Born in Dakar, Senegal, Mady Kouyate is a descendent of the Kouyate family of Dialolu, oral historians and musicians of Manding traditions that have honored West Africa for centuries, through their family tradition and artistry of music and verse that records the history of West African societies. Since adolescence, Mady Kouyate began the process of learning the tradition of his ancestral heritage, playing the 21-string kora. At the age of 16 he relocated to Bamako, Mali where he continued his study of kora music and the Diali (griot) tradition with virtuoso artist,Toumani Diabate. In 1993, he began his studies of music L'Institut National des Arts (National Institute of the Arts) in Bamako, Mali.  Mady Kouyate made in his first international tour in 2000, performing in 15 states throughout the United States and since numerous appearances throughout the mid United States where he currently resides.

Free and Open to the public
Contact cas@osu.edu for more information