Hi everyone! Sorry I’ve been MIA of late. I’m a working, busy man! But Actually I just got back from my first real vacation from work Since New Years. I Was in the Kedougou Region of Senegal for four days. Getting there took 13 hours on a dirt, pot hole infested road in an ancient car. Ahhh I remember the days when i Complain about the drive from LA to Vegas. Senegal Oh how I’ve changed. There Anyways I went to see the annual Festival Bassari Lives Since my friend Lindsay and ACTED with them as our “in.” Well That, and to see hippos and chimps. More on That in a future post When my friend sends me the photos. My battery died of course. So, The Bassari in 1 sentence: They are an ancient, animistic remote exreamly WHO tribe live around Southern Senegal and Guinea, and Each Year iniatiate They get together to male members (adolescent boys) Into the tribe. If you want more wikipedia them. The festival entailed Last Three days and lots of food, dancing, music, and rituals. My favorite event by far Was 45 When the youth Bassari Were iniatiated by tribesmen.It entailed a brutal fight around the ring of all the male vilagers, Along with me and my friends! Each took turns fighting adolescent to senior tribe member, using wooden swords and whips, while the Elders Used and Their hands just shields. It’s Expected That Every boy gets beat the living tar out of them During the fight. Was this true for 44/45 of the kids. But as is the case Every decade or so There is a kid Who beats the tribesman, and this was my lucky year! People went crazy and the kid Was Lifted up and treat like a god. I’m positive That kid will be the talk of the village for years to eat. And for the guy Who got beat up, I imagine I Was banished to solitary confinement on Some mountain for the rest of His Life. The elder tribesmen. To start the festival They All Came down the mountain in a single file line shack, made this wooden whistle noise with this instrument, and grunted.