Art Ecology on Goree Island

Suzanna
3 min readDec 28, 2020
Center and right painting by Pape. Left painting by Fallou.

Throughout my life I’ve envisioned a place where community replaces commercialism — where varieties of dance, music, art, and food are being made everywhere, all the time. I have found this place on Gorée Island and it’s been an immeasurable gift to spend the past four weeks living this existence and learning so much from it.

See/hear the short video at www.facebook.com/suzanna.davis.71/posts/10158953470294764.

Soft waves caress my thoughts as birds zealously chant and flutter through the flowers, conversing about all that is important.

Cobblestone pathways flow between historic repurposed buildings and uphill, winding through an enchanted display of art by local residents. Nearby drummers may spontaneously gather and elevate the earth with rhythm. In the afternoon songs of a hundred angel voices echo from the Mariama Ba all-girl’s school, and I am transported to paradise.

Portal into another dimension
See/hear the short video at https://www.facebook.com/suzanna.davis.71/posts/10158953964554764.

The other day I heard from a distance someone playing not a hand drum, but the drum kit. I decided not to mind my own business and pursued it, leading me into a tunnel that pivoted to a room, whereupon I was welcomed to the drummer’s practice.

See/hear the short video at www.facebook.com/suzanna.davis.71/posts/10158953470294764

Along any path is an encounter with art in the making — art of any style, including cassé cassé, a percussive instrument that makes me want to shimmy shimmy, created from a tree commonly found in Diogué Island in Casamance (southern Senegal). Through Fallou and Sallou, this has become an international sensation, especially in Japan, where the instrument is called Asalato. They make it look so simple yet, it’s incredibly challenging!

Pape, Goree artist

At night powerful, joyful, and gorgeous singing permeates the island. Art is just another element here, like air and water. It is not treated as exceptional, and yet it is deeply appreciated. Naturally, I’ve found my endless source of renewal in this ecology.

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Suzanna

World traveler, dancer, teacher, producer, and global community builder. Connect with events and classes at PlanetSuzanna.com or RakasaFit.com.