WILL YOU MAKE A PERSONAL GIFT TO OUR GRIOT?

Dear Friends of Mali,

In Mali, the most important social and spiritual event in the calendar is always a funeral. Not a birth, nor a marriage, nor the winning of a lucrative contract, but a funeral. AND THE MOST MEANINGFUL funeral of them all is your mother's funeral. Not your father's funeral, although that is meaningful as well of course: but it is your mother who gave you life; it is your mother who educated you; it is she who made you who you are, who taught you what is right and what is wrong. From your father, you receive your name: but from your mother, you receive your social status, your knowledge, your education.

Prince Jata, who later became the Lion King, was known as Sunjata Keita: Keita from his father, of course. But he was known as his mother's son Sogolon Jata, which became 'Sunjata'.

Cheikh Hamala Diabaté, our griot and our friend, lost his mother two days before the Folk Festival. He met his obligations to Richmond, played a fabulous concert, and now he needs to return home for his mother's funeral.

We need to help him financially, as friends, to do this. That is what Friends of Mali and friends of a Malian would do. We must do it.

In return, CHD and his children will sing our praises for years to come, and tell the world that we are true Friends of Mali!

That is what griots do!

You can use the Paypal link here or on our website (vafriendsofmali.org). If you prefer to mail your contributions, please make checks payable to "VFOM" and write "For Griot CHD"on the memo line; and send to

VFOM
PO Box 4363
Richmond, VA 23220

Thank you,

Ana Edwards, president
Virginia Friends of Mali

on behalf of the Board of Directors

Lydie Alapini-Sakponou
Lindsey Fitzgerald
Tim Harding
Brahima Kone
Allan Levenberg
Robin Edward Poulton
Johanna Sakponou
Dana Wiggins

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