Faranah Stories


The Only Honky in Town

Recovering from malaria. Snoop dog has kept me company, lifted my spirits, and slept in my bed. A cute puppy is the best remedy for illness, despite the puddles he makes on my sheets. Today is the first morning I feel I have enough energy to get out of bed and go to town. Decided to go buy Snoop some fish and milk from the market. The family doesn'...


Circumcision Tour 2009

6:52am. An urgent knock on my door. Still unconscious but hear my name being called. Stumble out my hut to see who interrupted my dream. It's Little Boob. He tells me Fadouba is very sick and asks if I have any medicine. I walk to his hut and find him shivering, wrapped in blankets and shaking uncontrollably. Malaria. There's not much I can do o...


Home Is Where the Homo Is

I have spoken with Fadouba and I've extended my initial 5 day stay here by an additional two weeks. I am no longer paying a fee per day for accomodation and lessons. We have an agreement so that as long as I spring for bail money to get his son out of jail and cover the cost of repairs to his car, I can stay and live here rent free until the end of th...


First Family of Drum

For the last five days, Ive been living with the family of Fadouba Oulare. The first family of drum in Guinea. He is an internationally recognized djembe star and a legend in Guinea. He began his career in the late 50s as a co-founder and soloist drummer for Les Ballets Africains, a traditional music & dance troupe which is Guinea's most famous cultu...