This is an interview with Mamane Barka, the last master of the Biram, a traditional African instrument in Niger.

In a world where entire animal species and ethnic tribes can be lost, it should come as no surprise that musical instruments too, can become extinct.
Standing firm against the disappearance of the ancient African instrument the Biram, is the musician Mamane Barka- the last master of the Biram.
There is an urgency in Barka’s voice as he strives to fulfill his ambition to keep the Biram going, amidst ever changing musical tastes and the nonchalance of the political elite in his native Niger.
He said: “Culture is disappearing. I can’t believe that in a country like mine, where you can get a lot of important traditional instruments, these instruments are allowed to disappear. The old periods are dying and there is no one who can continue – that is not good.”
He added: “I may be only one person, but I can do something that another man can continue after me.”
Barka spoke to Suite 101 about how he learnt to play the Biram and his efforts to secure the instrument’s continued legacy.
Learning a Sacred Traditional Instrument
Barka’s journey to becoming the last surviving player of the Biram is as fascinating as the music that he conjures from the instrument.
The Biram is a sacred, traditional instrument used by the small Boudouma tribe in Eastern Niger. Traditional fishing nomads, they live on the border of lake Chad.
A 5 stringed instrument somewhat similar to a harp, the Biram is played only by initiatied masters within the Boudouma tribe. In the Boudouma language, Biram means ‘family’ and the 5 strings represent the father, mother, and three children. The instrument is sacred to the Boudouma people and evokes images of their nomadic, peaceful life.
But Barka is not from the Boudouma tribe. He hails from the similarly nomadic Toubou tribe and only discovered the Biram in 1998 as part of ethnomusicological research he was conducting with academics.
He explained: “In 1998 I went with a professor of music to do research on music from different tribes in my country. When we met the man who became my master (Boukar Tar), he was crying. He said he was not happy because there was no one who played the Biram now. He played a song called Bulanga, which is a song he did for his friends and other masters of the Biram who died. ‘Now’, he said, ‘I am alone’. ‘What will be the future of the Biram?’ He cried in front of us. The professor told me: ‘Barka, the Biram is a very important instrument for your country and you shouldn’t let it die. You must go back and ask him to teach it to you’, and I agreed.”
Becoming the Last Master
However it wasn’t until 2002 that Barka was able to return to the coast to find the old master. Difficulties in identifying financial support delayed his dreams, but it was a UNESCO scholarship that finally gave him the opportunity to return to the tribe.
The 51 year old Barka explained: “When I went back to the village in 2002, the old master looked at me in surprise. When I told him that I had come to be his student, he was very pleased.”
After many rituals of purification the old master agreed to educate Barka in the holy instrument and the lyrics of the mystical songs.
Barka’s timing was just right as his master died the following year.
Armed with his master’s 47 year old Biram given to him as a gift, Barka is now truly the last master of the Biram in the world and considers it his duty to teach others about the instrument.
Most of the songs he performs are traditional Boudouma songs that talk about the life of the ancestors, the spirits and animals; the beauty of the water in the lake, the beauty of the desert, and the braveness of the warriors. He sings in the Boudouma language as well as in Haussa, Toubou and Kanuri, all different languages of Niger.
Teaching Traditional Music
Barka bemoaned the loss of interest in the instrument amongst young people in his home country.
“The population doesn’t want the Biram now,” he said.
“The young people don’t want it. They don’t want traditional music- not just the Biram but all traditional music. My country is full of important and very good music but the young people want rap music, or to learn the guitar or the piano or the saxophone. I am only doing this now, going around the world with the Biram, to get the youths to love the culture.”
Thankfully, the future for the Biram looks bright. Barka has three keen students– all anxious to get their own instrument soon.
“They want their own instruments,” he explained.
“I tell them one day I will get some money so that everyone can get his own Biram. I don’t want to be like my master- if I die there is no one anywhere with a Biram. My master gave me his own Biram; the one that his father gave to him- he had it for 47 years. It is very old and I am scared to leave it in my house with my two wives and nine children!”
Prior to learning the Biram, Barka was a well known musician in Niger, famous for popular music.
His devotion to the Biram now has taken him around the world and he hopes that his recent UK tour in November 2009, will continue to raise the profile of this beautiful instrument.
“The Biram is not a sacred instrument to me as it was to my master,” he said.
“Its music and melodies and the words are sacred, but it is a universal instrument. It is an instrument that everyone can learn to play without doing the purification rituals. You come to see me and I will teach you how to play the Biram.”

For me, the New Year always brings with it anticipation of the Barbados Jazz Festival. I am not a jazz purist, I enjoy all genres of music, particularly R&B, Soul, World Beat and the numerous local acts from the Caribbean that hold sway at most Caribbean jazz festivals. Each year, Gilbert Rowe, founder and president of GMR Tours brings more than a few musical surprises both local and international.

The 16th edition of the Barbados Jazz Festival brought Harvey Mason, James Blunt, Dee Dee Bridgewater, Angie Stone, and Chrisette Michele as headliners, Hilario Duran and Glenn Lewis from Toronto, Canada and featured local artists Diana Jarrett, David Burnett, Dwane Husbands, Kite, Errol Ince, Raf Robertson & Birdsong Academy along with Nexcyx and BCC Jazz Project.

While my main reason for flying to Barbados each January is to cover the jazz festival it is also the day trips and attractions that I look forward to. Careening off road through sugar cane fields in the back of an Island Safari Jeep or lolling about the Tiami Catamaran on a luxurious 5 hour trip up the west coast of Barbados are just two of my favourite things to do.

Opening night of the jazz festival is held at the Sunbury Plantation House built in 1660 in the Parish of St. Philip. The beautifully lit landscaped grounds feature numerous carts and machinery once used to cultivate the land over a century ago. The house itself has withstood the ravages of both fire and hurricanes and is open daily for visitors to enjoy lunch or dinner while they explore the fascinating history of this grand plantation house.

Over the years, many great jazz artists have graced the stage at Sunbury, Roberta Gambarini, Roy Hargrove, Terence Blanchard, John Pattiticci, Robert Glasper, Herbie Hancock, Dianne Reeves and Lizz Wright to name just a few. A celebratory mood engulfs the atmosphere on opening night, women are dressed to the nines and the men are enjoying the repartee. The 2009 BJF edition opened with Diana Jarrett before headliner Harvey Mason took the stage.

This year’s crop of local talent included David Burnett and Dwane Husbands at Heritage Park and Rum Factory. Each year Heritage Park presents the best of the best in local Bajan talent. I am a big supporter of the many talented young artists to perform on Tuesday nights at the festival. One year featured rising star Hal Linton, who has since been signed to a multi-million dollar record deal with Universal/Motown and will be releasing his new CD sometime in 2010. Linton has the moves, grooves and smooth good looks of top R&B artists from the past. Keep your eyes and ears tuned for this young man’s debut.

Wednesday’s day trip involved a visit to the new Aerial Trek Zipline Adventure and I could not get there soon enough. I had my first zipline experience at Utah Olympic Park in late 2008; it was such a thrilling experience that I quickly became a zipline fan. I loved going 50 mph on a zipline and the feel of moving along a wire suspended from a small harness. The new Barbados Aerial Trek Adventure is set in the rainforest 160 feet above the ground going from platform to platform, up close in the canopy free as a bird. It is a fun and exhilarating experience to be near the top of the treetops in the dense rain forest allowing one to feel at home with nature.

Local rock/pop group Kite opened with their Police/Beatles/60’s reverb sound before a frenzied performance from none other than headliner James Blunt. Who knew Blunt was such a wild man on stage…. he could give Jamie Cullum a run for his money on stage antics. Both Blunt and Cullum move from guitar to piano in sneakers, they both jump onto their pianos and run around onstage like giddy elves.

Blunt is completely charming, it was no wonder that the mostly female audience went crazy when Blunt invited them to come to the front of the stage. His songs are a sad reflection of life circumstances that has felt the pain of a broken heart more than once. It was odd to see such exuberance during tales of love gone wrong. Blunt jumped off stage and into the audience shaking hands and singing, he jumped onstage then stepped onto his piano smiling and singing all the while. He took off his jacket, loosened his tie, and grabbed the guitar. He played his hits, everyone knew the words and sang with him, ‘You’re Beautiful’ sent the crowd into overdrive. Blunt is a consummate entertainer with heart rendering songs of love, a mischievous gleam in his eyes, he’s funny, engaging and yes, he even won me over.

The next morning I was on the bus to tour Harrison’s Cave, a limestone cave that remains a ‘live’water source. The water that flows through Harrison’s Cave is pure and clean. Pools of crystal clear water flow throughout the cave in dramatic lighting. The stalactites and stalagmites are beautiful individual works of art that are constantly evolving. The 40 minutes passed too quickly in this magical underground setting.

When it comes to rum, there is no finer rum than Mount Gay. A tour of the Mount Gay Rum Factory is the perfect way to become familiar with the history and variety of rum available on the island. You will be greeted in the garden with a small sample of refreshing rum punch as a steel pan player provides the musical flavors before you begin a tour of the facility. You will have an opportunity to see some of the old photographs and learn about the history of the first families to produce this superior rum product. Inside the on-site Rum Shop, some of the oldest distillery pots are on display, along with a short film detailing footage and photos of the history of Mount Gay Rum. At the end of the tour, you will be called upon to belly up to the bar and enjoy a sampling of several varieties of rum. Visitors can enjoy a relaxing lunch with ocean views and a cooling breeze on the outdoor veranda.

Later that evening we had the good fortune of attending one of the concerts at the incredible Crane Beach Resort, Barbados oldest resort hotel, built in the 1700’s. The magnificent Crane has cloned itself into a village of luxury suites and rooms, and most recently added several shops on the property in their own Town Square. We enjoyed cocktails in the square before a sumptuous dinner of traditional Thai and Japanese cuisine in one of the private ‘Tatami’ dinning rooms. Zen was the winner of the 2009 Zagat Guide to the Best of Barbados No. 1 for Food. The exquisite sushi bar and dessert table alone are worth the trip to Zen.

Trinidadian trumpeter Errol Ince was the special guest performer later that night on the Crane’s outdoor stage with the ocean and a slice of the moon as a backdrop. The scene suited the soft and gentle songs performed by Ince who has spent over 50 years playing the music he loves. Ince has toured with both the Tommy Dorsey and Lionel Hampton orchestras as well as bandleader for the Mighty Sparrow. At 70, Ince made his way from Trinidad to London where he was voted ‘Best Trumpet Player in Europe’ for five consecutive years, 1968-1972. This night was particularly poignant for Ince who had just learned of a close friend’s passing. He played one of his hit tunes ‘Gaza Strip’ his first composition written when he was 17 years old. He played standards such as ‘Freddie Freeloader’, ‘Stardust’ and ‘Girl from Ipanema’, talked about his days traveling the world, and ended with a gentle version of ‘Hot, Hot, Hot’ to a standing ovation.

A 9 a.m. pick-up delivered us to Shallow Draught where we boarded the gleaming Tiami Catamaran for the five-hour trip up the west coast of Barbados to swim, snorkel and watch the feeding of the giant sea turtles.

As always, the handsome crew were waiting with smiles, fishcakes and champagne and orange juice to welcome us while they took our shoes and guided us safely aboard. It was time to slather on the sunscreen and find a spot to ride the waves while a steady reggae beat kept pace in the background. There are numerous places to chill out and watch the scenery, soak up the sun, or mingle with the other passengers in the cabin area. I prefer to ride the front of the boat with the wind in my face and dangle my feet in the water as we glide silently through the waves powered only by the wind in the sail.

Once we arrive at the designated feeding site, we are one of several boatloads of tourists. After handing out snorkeling equipment and instructions, people are ready to jump in the water. The turtles are already enjoying a lunch of fresh chum to the delight of everyone. Close encounters are treasured moments of an all too brief encounter with these ancient sea turtles. A delicious lunch of flying fish, macaroni pie, chicken, salad, coleslaw and rice are prepared while everyone is in the water. After lunch is served, we pull up anchor and sail away to a coral reef site for more snorkeling or swimming before heading back. The experience onboard the Tiami is a day of five-star perfection that you will not want to miss on your next trip to Barbados.

The evening’s concert brought us to a new, elegant venue for the festival, Ilaro Court, the Prime Minister David Thompson’s residence, where the grounds were set with tables and chairs and concert seating in front of the stage. There were booths with home cooked Bajan food, crafts and an outdoor bar set up on the property. The first set opened with Raf Robertson’s Birdsong Academy of young musicians and singers who turned in a very impressive hour of music before headliner Dee Dee Bridgewater took the stage.

Sitting under the stars, in the backyard of the Prime Minister of Barbados with Dee Dee Bridgewater onstage enhances the experience of the Barbados Jazz Festival. Bridgewater arrived on stage – bald – singing ‘Let Me’. Her dazzling smile can light up the whole outdoors, with a mischievous glint in her eye she engages the audience with “Who ate my food? I can’t wait to get some of that Bajan home cookin’, you know that sensual food – you know how to ‘eat’ real good” she said with a wink as she launched into a slow and sensuous version of ‘Besame Mucho’ she acted out each nuance of the song. “Glad you enjoyed it so much, I did too” she sang ‘Speak Low, Speak Love’ a song on her latest CD; during ‘Let’s Talk About Love Baby’ she said “There’s just something about the men in Barbados….oooh, I want to talk about it all night long,” then began ‘Love For Sale’ swaying sensually, lifting her dress a little at the ankle, getting down and looking like a pouty bad girl she said “It feels good to be naughty, it breaks me out in a sweat, it makes me wet. I was told that you were a very discreet people, I was told that I should be careful not to wear plunging necklines, I was told that I shouldn’t say bad words but I could get the thought going. Is that right?”

“You all are sitting there all quiet and proper like – so I guess I’m just going to sit my fanny down and give you food for thought, I’m going to do a song from my last CD, it’s kind of a children’s tale for the child in all of us, cause this is the last I’m gonna be proper.” “I wrote these lyrics for our latest Grammy nominated CD, exploring our African ancestors from Mali. I’d like to dedicate this to all women of color.”

After the song was over Bridgewater looked out into the crowd and said “I need to know, did they put glue on those seats? Did they use Superglue? I mean it, you all are just sitting there, is that what you do in Barbados? Well, I’m going to do whatever I can to get you out of those seats on this last song because you people are wearing me out now, I’m up here working and you’re just sitting there.” At that point, 18 people get up and move to the music in front of the stage; another 14 stand up in front of their seats and sort of move to the music. It is clear that at this point Bridgewater has lost her enthusiasm and thanks those who got up to dance. Before she leaves the stage, she said, “It’s my first time to Barbados, I can’t say how much I have enjoyed myself – the Crane Resort – Oh my God, I found heaven. Thank you Caroline, Ann Marie, Paul and thank you Prime Minister, lots of love and blessings to everybody.”

Saturday and Sunday, the Barbados Jazz Festival moves to Farley Hill National Park located in the Parish of St. Peter. A forest of Barbados mahogany, Norfolk Island Pines, Tamarind and Cabbage Palms, a large garden, and a children’s playground surround the Great House ruins. Spectacular views of the Scotland district in the valley, the Sleeping giant and across to the rugged east coast can be seen from the top of the hill. Behind the Great House, you will find rolling hills of sugar cane as far as the eye can see all the way to the ocean.

Everyone comes early and prepared, with chairs, blankets, umbrellas and picnic coolers ready to stake out their favorite vantage point.

Local Barbados group Nexcyx was first to take the stage on Saturday, performing more of their original material than the previous year when the opened for Erykah Badu with a very tight set of old school R&B hits. I don’t know if was the early daytime set, the change in material or the overall energy level but I much preferred the set from the previous year. However, it is obvious that this group of talented young musicians and singers work hard to put together a professional show for their audience. I look forward to hearing what’s next from Nexcyx.

Toronto R&B singer Glenn Lewis followed, performing songs from his ‘World Outside My Window’ released on Epic Records including his hit ‘Don’t You Forget It’. His set was sprinkled with rap, hip-hop and R&B songs that warmed the audience up for headliner Angie Stone.

Singer, songwriter, record producer and actress, Angie Stone likes to keep busy. Flanked by her band and backup singers, Stone came out singing, songs from her Art of Love and War CD, released a few months earlier on Stax Records, her first for the label. ‘Happy Being Me’, ‘Brotha’,‘These Are the Reasons’. Stone’s neo soul groove held the audience captive and she ran through a repertoire that included songs from her previous CD’s such as ‘Wish I Didn’t Miss You’, ‘No More Rain in this Cloud’, ‘Pissed Off’ and ‘Touch It’ from her Mahogany Soul CD, along with a few favorites from her earlier CD’s on J Records.

Sunday at Farley Hill National Park (or as the locals call it ‘the hill’) began with a wonderful jazz group called BCC (Barbados Community College) Jazz Project featuring singer Kellie Cadogen. This young group performed jazz standards and a few originals with a mature feel for the roots of jazz. Kellie Cadogen, who released her first CD in 2008, has a sophisticated stage presence and knows how to work the crowd with strong, confident vocals. It was a great beginning to the last day.

Cuban born, Torontonian, Hilario Duran brought his group from Toronto along with singers, Luis Mario Ochoa and Jailan Duran, Hilario’s daughter, provided the vocals for the hot ,hot, hot, Latin dance music. Duran has won numerous awards for his playing, his compositions and is as adept at Latin jazz and straight ahead jazz not unlike Chucho Valden or Gonzalo Rubalcaba but he also likes to mix it up for the audience who likes to dance. No sooner did the first notes begin and the front of the stage was crowded with dancers. Salsa, Mambo, ChaCha in a mass of fast foot steps, spinning and twirling with hips swaying that kept the momentum moving at high speed. Luis Mario Ochoa is an excellent singer who also hails from Cuba and is a perfect match for Duran’s music.

R&B singer, songwriter and relative newcomer Chrisette Michele is signed to Def-Jam Records and was excited about the upcoming release of her second CD ‘Epiphany’ in late January. She performed tracks from the CD, obviously connecting with Barbados audience that was gathered around the front of the stage. Chrisette Michele is looking forward to being out on the road and touring with her band ‘The Truth’ as more opportunites open up for her. She sings well, looks great, writes songs that resonate with her fans and has an unstopable attitude. She has the right people in her corner working on bringing her and her music to the world. Keep your eyes and ears out for Chrisette Michele’s CD ‘Epiphany’ in the very near future.

I would like to thank the Barbados Tourism Authortiy, Ruth, Crystal, Jackie, Avril, Che; the Toronto BTA office, Cheryl Carter, Gail Stewart and eveyone else who work hard to make our trip to the Barbados Jazz Festival a most wonderful experience. A special thank you to Gilbert Rowe who manages to share many happy musical surprises each and every year. It is always my great pleasure to head ‘home’ to Barbados every January to hear some great music, and enjoy the treasures to be found on one of the most beautiful islands in the Caribbean.

Amy Grant was one of the first Christan artist in the Contemporary movement of the 70’s & 80’s.For over 25 years, she has inspired millions. Don’t miss her newest CD.

Amy Grant was born in Augusta, Geogia on November 25, 1960. She’s best known for her music: pop, gospel and contemporary Christian. But she has also done some acting and written a few books.
70’s & 80’s
At the age of 16, Amy Grant signed a recording contract with Word Records. Someone passed on a tape she had made for her parents to the executives at Word Records. She wrote most of the songs on that tape and they found her to be remarkably talented for someone so young. She released her first album, self titled Amy Grant in 1977. She also did some backup singing for Bill Gaither in the 1970’s.
Amy went on to graduate high school and attend college, but after recording a few more albums, she decided to drop out of college and pursue a music career.She recorded My Father’s Eyes in 1979, Never Alone in 1980 and a series of live albums in 1981, Amy Grant in Concert and In Concert Volume Two.
The song My Father’s Eyes was written by her first husband, singer-songwriter, Gary Chapman. Amy and Gary were married in June 1982 and they had three children : Matthew Garrison Chapman 1987. Gloria Mills, (Millie), Chapman 1989 and Sarah Cannon Chapman 1992.
Continuing with her music career, in 1982, Amy gained a lot of attention with the album, Age to Age. This album contained the very popular El Shaddai and a song written by Grant and Chapman entitled, In A Little While. Years later, El Shaddai was rewarded as one of the Songs of the Century by RIAA in 2001. Grant received her first Grammy Award in 1985 for Best Contemporary Gospel Performance, as well as two GMA Dove Adwards for Gospel Artist of the Year and Pop/Contemporary Album of the Year. Age to Age became the first Christian album by a solo artist to be certified gold in 1983 and the first Christian album to be certified platinum in1985.

Mainstream
In the mid 1980’s, Amy Grant decided she wanted to be the first Christian artist to cross over into pop mainstream and make an impact for Christ with her music in both the Christian and secular music worlds. In 1985, she crossed over to pop with Ungaurded. Christian fans were a little shocked and surprised to see, usually conservative and reserved, Amy Grant in a leopard print jacket for the cover of Ungaurded.
Find A Way, from the album, Ungaurded became the first Christian song to hit the Billboard’s Top 40. A year later, in 1986, Amy had her first #1 hit on the Billboard chart with the duet The Next Time I Fall, sung with Peter Cetera
In 1988, Amy enjoyed moderate success with Lead Me On. It was mostly a pop secular album, but years later, CCM magazine awarded it the greatest contemporary album of all time. She continued her journey into the pop music world in 1991 with Heart in Motion. It was huge success. One song, Baby Baby became a #1 hit on the Billboard Hot 100.
Life Changes
In 1994, Amy grant recorded a music video, the House of Love with country singer, Vince Gill. A friendship developed from their first meeting. Amy divorced Gary Chapman in 1999 siting irreconcilable differences. She married Vince Gill in 2000 and they have one daughter together, Corinna Grant Gill.
A Return Back To Contemporary Christian Music
Amy returned to her roots of christian music in 2002 with the release of Legacy…Hymns and Faith. The album features her husband, Vince Gill, and marks her 25th year in the music industry. That year, she was also inducted into the Gospel Music Hall of Fame. In 2005, Amy released a sequel to Legacy…Hymns and Faith called Rock Of Ages…. Hymns and Faith.
Future Plans
In 2006, Amy Grant received a star on the Hollywood Walk of Fame. She’s made several television appearances, written a few books and been on the cover of several well known magazines. Amy turns 50 years old this year. She currently hold the record as the best selling Contemporary Christian music singer of all time. She has sold over 30 million albums worldwide. So far, Amy has won six Grammy Awards and 25 Dove Awards.
On March 30, 2010, Amy is set to release her latest project, Somewhere Down The Road. The 12 track album features four new songs and a new version of Arms of Love.This album also incudes a first time duet, Overnight, with her seventeen year old daughter, Sarah. The first single from this new project, Better Than A Hallelujah is Amy Grant’s first radio single in seven years. She starts promoting this new album on Feb 26, 2010 with a concert in Denver, CO. and has dates booked across the US right through August. For more information on concert dates, visit amygrant.com.