Thank you so much - WOMAD!", Justin says as one of their most trancey, smoking sets draws to a conclusion. With Juldeh's riti safe and miraculously not on fire after such awesome playing, Justin introduces the band....." Martyn Barker on drums, Ousman Beyai on bass, Mim Suleiman on backing vocals, extra backing vocals Simon Broughton and the great Fulani Coochi man, Mr Juldeh Camara".
Words : Jill Turner
Images : Darren Coleman for Puttyfoot.com
The cheers are so loud they sound like fog horns, the audience knows something is afoot, as Simon Broughton walks on stage clutching a glass Songlines Music award. " Two musicians from two very different traditions playing incredibly organically together, I'm Simon Broughton from Songlines and I'm here because Justin and Juldeh have won the cross cultural collaboration award" and before he could say where from, the audience were once more roaring and applauding. "From Songlines Magazine and I think after that set you can understand why." says Simon, eloquently riding everyone's excitement.
He continues, "Now to present the award, I am very very honoured to introduce someone who started and is behind Real World Records, who released the last album of Justin and Juldeh and many ohter cross cultural collaboration recordings and the man who is behind this festival, who brings us all togther with these amazing musicians from around the world....so I am really delighted to introduce Peter Gabriel".
The audience lets rip, it seems as if the hugest cheers are reserved for when Gabriel walks on stage, the audience absolutely love him. "Thank you", says Gabriel modestly, pausing for a little quiet. "After all these investigations into my D.N.A. as Archbishop Tutu is always reminding us, we are all Africans really and you can hear that extraorinarily clearly in the magical and mesmerising music of Justin Adams and Juldeh Camara". A stray yayy from within the crowd punctuates his presentation, "we are very proud to have them working with us at Real World and in lots of ways they are the spriit of WOMAD and it gives me enormous pleasure to give them the Songlines Music award for cross cultural collaboration.
The crowd go crazy and looking proudly on are the rest of the band, Ousman, Mim and Martyn.
Waving a scrap of paper, Justin begins the acceptance speeches, "Well what a thing to get an award from someone who we admire so much and who has done such a lot in so many ways for so many musicians and music and people who love music all over the world. I can't believe sometimes when I am at Real World Studios, I just think this is so incredible what this guy has done......anyway,.. Just very quickly to thank you so much for the record we have made and the past three years of touring we have done we had incredible support, my family Mandy, Jo Lilly, David James Management, David Flower and George at Sasa everybody at Real World, Tim Oliver who mixed the record and sounds amazing,the drummer on the record, Salah Dawson Miller, from the support of Songlines and fRoots and never forgetting Charlie Gillett who helped us out in so many ways....thank you so much".
He steps back as Juldeh holds the award aloft, "Thank you, thank you, thank you, again again again again, big suprise for me again. Last time for Soul Science make me suprise and this one too, I like that",says Juldeh his face beaming and animated which in turn, encourages ripples of laughter from the crowd. He then continues his acceptance speech in Fula everyone hanging on each word, speakers and non speakers alike before giving individual thanks in English to " the Songlines, fRoots,promoters, managers and Duncan Noble my manager and best friend he help me and also my best best friend and support Charlie Gillett, oh Allah, thank you for the support".
... and with this the celebration was over, to be continued back stage no doubt.
Related article: Music Awards beyond the BBC..
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