Afropop Worldwide

At the northern tip of Madagascar, Diego Suarez (Antsiranana) is a fabled destination. With its history of piracy, Indian Ocean trade, and a dramatic World War II battle between the British and the Vichy French, the history runs thick. The area's beautiful beaches and laid-back vibe make it a longstanding tourist destination. And, the city plays a crucial role in the creation and evolution of the 6/8 dance music known as salegy.  The history and music are featured on the Afropop program "Hip Deep in Madagascar: Songs of the North." Here is a set of images from Afropop's May 2014 field trip to Diego: [caption id="attachment_21388" align="aligncenter" width="600"] Map of Diego Suarez in Hajazz's house (Eyre 2014)[/caption] [caption id="attachment_21389" align="aligncenter" width="600"] Diego Suarez street (Eyre 2014)[/caption] [caption id="attachment_21391" align="aligncenter" width="600"] Diego Suarez street. THB is "Three Horses Beer," the popular local brew (Eye 2014)[/caption] [caption id="attachment_21396" align="aligncenter" width="600"] Jac's, a young salegy star, at Vahinée Snack Bar Discoteque in Diego (Eyre 2014)[/caption] [caption id="attachment_21397" align="aligncenter" width="500"] Jac's (Eyre 2014)[/caption] [caption id="attachment_21398" align="aligncenter" width="600"] Macho and Hervé, traditional musicians and instructors at Ecole Zomare. (Eyre 2014)[/caption] [caption id="attachment_21399" align="aligncenter" width="600"] A fine old tree going down slow in downtown Diego. (Eyre, 2014)[/caption] [caption id="attachment_21400" align="aligncenter" width="600"] The group Vagno Kabosy, with Hervé on percussion, at Libertalia in downtown Diego (Eyre 2014)[/caption] [caption id="attachment_21402" align="aligncenter" width="600"] Macho, Hervé, Jonathan Longcore, and Sean Barlow at "Yes Jazz," an out-of-the-way nightspot in Diego Suarez (Eyre 2014)[/caption] [caption id="attachment_21406" align="aligncenter" width="600"] Entrance to the Catholic school that becomes Ecole Zomare, a school of music and dance, every Saturday (Eyre 2014)[/caption] [caption id="attachment_21403" align="aligncenter" width="600"] Accordion students at Ecole Zomare (Eyre 2014)[/caption] [caption id="attachment_21404" align="aligncenter" width="600"] Hervé and Candela lead accordion jam at Zomare (Eyre 2014)[/caption] [caption id="attachment_21380" align="aligncenter" width="550"] Zana Bahoaka Victor in Diego Suarez (Eyre 2014)[/caption] [caption id="attachment_21379" align="aligncenter" width="600"] Zana Bahoaka Victor (Eyre 2014)[/caption] [caption id="attachment_21411" align="aligncenter" width="600"] Young students at Ecole Zomare (Eyre 2014)[/caption] [caption id="attachment_21405" align="aligncenter" width="600"] Bahoaka, now retired, returns to Ecole Zomare, the school for music and dance he co-founded (Eyre 2014)[/caption] [caption id="attachment_21410" align="aligncenter" width="600"] Guitar class at Ecole Zomare (Eyre 2014)[/caption] [caption id="attachment_21409" align="aligncenter" width="600"] Banning Eyre visits a guitar class at Ecole Zomare (Barlow 2014)[/caption] [caption id="attachment_21407" align="aligncenter" width="600"] Ecole Zomare staff and students (Eyre 2014)[/caption] [caption id="attachment_21384" align="aligncenter" width="600"] Candela and Groupe Zomare (Eyre 2014)[/caption] [caption id="attachment_21387" align="aligncenter" width="600"] The French WWII cemetery in Diego Suarez (Eyre 2014)[/caption] [caption id="attachment_21386" align="aligncenter" width="600"] The English WWII cemetery in Diego Suarez (Eyre 2014)[/caption] [caption id="attachment_21395" align="aligncenter" width="600"] Hajazz shows off his dual axe (Eyre 2014)[/caption] [caption id="attachment_21394" align="aligncenter" width="600"] Hajazz on kabosy guitar (Eyre 2014)[/caption] [caption id="attachment_21393" align="aligncenter" width="600"] Hajazz at home in Diego Suarez (Eyre 2014)[/caption] [caption id="attachment_21376" align="aligncenter" width="600"] Ali Mourad (sometimes Aly Mourady) live at Jao's Pub in Antananarivo. OK, we didn't meet him in Diego, but he is from there! (Eyre 2014)[/caption] [caption id="attachment_21378" align="aligncenter" width="600"] Ali Mourad's scene! (Eyre 2014)[/caption] [caption id="attachment_21377" align="aligncenter" width="600"] Rombo--the rhythmic clapping that accompanies a salegy performance. (Eyre 2014)[/caption]