Fund Súle's Documentary to Heal Banjo's History

In 1976, Daniel Laemou Jatta was attending school in South Carolina. It was there he first heard an instrument that reminded him of the folk lute his dad played in the Gambia. He realized then that the Akonting and the banjo were long-lost cousins, separated by ocean, events, and time.

I first met Daniel at the Black Banjo Gathering in North Carolina in 2005. Bringing over twenty years of learning and researching his lute, Daniel told us the Akonting's story. He shared with us that even today, Jola people are warned to not play their Akonting too close to the Atlantic's shore, or “The Devils will carry you away”.

Now twenty years later, Daniel Laemou Jatta is opening the Akonting Center in the Gambia this November and has invited me along with a film crew to share in and document this historic event. The Center will be an international locus for his peoples’ Arts, amazing Earth-based Culture, and ancient Traditions..

Daniel is gathering Elders of his culture and specialists from around the world to share and discuss the intersection of African and U.S. culture, spirit and music.

My name is Súle Greg Wilson, M. A., American Griot. As a revered elder collaborating with the Black Banjo Reclamation Project I play, build and tell the story of the U.S.'s instrument of nostalgia and remembrance: the five-string banjo.

We need to raise $25,000 to send our four-person video crew to the Gambia to document this historic celebration of folk music and life.

BUDGET BREAKDOWN:

Air fare & travel incidentals for four people: $8,000

Admin Salaries: $3,000

Equipment (SIM cards, batteries, lights): $2,000

Insurance: $0500

Accommodations & Board: $2,000

Salaries for Location Shoot: $8,000

Shots and Visas $0500

Senegal Side Trip (Casamance, Sebikotane) $1,000

GRAND TOTAL: $25,000

We need your help. Now. Thank you.