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Alhaji Papa Susso
Alhaji Papa Susso, a Gambian musician and oral historian, visited KU from March 25 -29 to participate in the Oral History Workshop sponsored by the Hall Center and other activities organized by the ASRC. In this week Papa Susso talked and performed to KU students in five classes including introduction to Africa, African history, African geography, and music taught by Professor Clarence Henry. He visited and performed at the Lawrence High School Attend Assembly and also performed at Lawrence Free State High School World Geography and French classes. Papa Susso also visited Southwest Junior High School at Lawrence. On Wednesday March 27 he performed in a big gathering at Washburn University in Topeka. The total number of audience reached out by Papa Susso exceeded a thousand.
In the Oral History Workshop Elizabeth MacGonagle and Papa Susso presented a panel called "First people: third world." MacGonagle teaches African History and her research work is mainly in Zimbabwe and Mozambique. She studies oral history, interviewing people and asking them about their lives, marriages and other issues. She would ask people about material things, which might not appear historical at first, such as jewelry, clothing, and decoration.
Papa Susso talked and performed to about 300 people participated in the Oral History Workshop.. He first talked about his country, Gambia where 90% of the population are Muslim. They do have Christians Catholics and other faiths as well. Susso believes conversion to Islam itself could be seen as a source of oral tradition. In Africa somebody must always talk for you, even if you're looking for a job, they say "bring recommendation from other people". This is why the Griots talk for the community, this is why they talk for the kings, for families, this is why their roles in society is important. Papa Susso als talked about the center of oral traditions that he runs in Gambia. He said, the center is located in a village about 224 miles south of the capital city of the Gambia. The village is small, about 500 people, and it is where Susso was born and grew up. In this area, Susso said, you have the Mandika culture, Fulani culture, Wolof culture and so forth. Susso worked with Alex Haley in 1968 in the Gambia and he also worked with him many times in the United States. When Alex Haley came to the center to visit Papa Susso, he was very impressed with the work that Susso does.
According to Papa Susso, Griots are born as Griots, they're not chosen. Lower class people in Africa were not supposed to work as Griots, but that is completely changed now. Papa Susso said Griot means, "praise singer" or "oral historian". The Griot does not mean a storyteller, it's a praised singer. So the word Griot became popular, it's a French word and its meaning is "praised singer." The instrument he plays, the Kora, has passed from generation to generation from father to son. They are attached to the community and have an important role to play in weddings, ritual circumcision and so forth. Papa Susso argues that the accuracy of histories in Africa, passing from generation to generation, is primarily attributed to the dominant oral culture. He said "Nowadays the governor of the Center for Archives in the Gambia bestows information from generation to generation. Before this, we didn't have anything like that. We used to memorize the daily activities of the people and that is how we've been able to keep the history until 19th century. You keep history of family, kingdoms, and difference between clans and there's a lot of power in this interpretive role."
Alhaji Papa Susso, a griot, or praise singer, from The Gambia, performs at Southwest Junior High School in Lawrence
About his visit to Lawrence's Southwest Junior High School on Monday, March 25th, Danielle Lotton-Barker, Enrichment Resource Teacher wrote the following: "Southwest Junior High School benefited from the outreach services of KU's African Studies Resource Center when Gambian griot Alhaji Papa Susso visited our 7th grade teams in preparation for their Africa interdisciplinary unit. Mr. Susso gave three presentations (one to each team), reaching over 235 students. He talked about the role of the griot among the Mandinka, about Gambian cultural traditions, about his kora (traditional musical instrument), and about what the students might experience if they were to visit The Gambia. Mr. Susso also sang songs and played his kora, inviting students to join him at the front to learn to sing in Mandinka and play the kora. Mr. Susso's warm and friendly demeanor and his love of fun had the kids up and on their feet, dancing along with him. (This is quite an accomplishment if any of you know junior high kids!) One 7th grader, who did have the opportunity to play the kora, commented about the instrument's complexity and Papa Susso's overall impact, "He was a really good player - that kora was difficult to play. It was also cool to stories about his country and culture. He was good with us kids." The seventh grade teachers reported that student responses to his presentations were enthusiastic. "And his use of audience participation was fabulous. The kids were revved up and ready to learn about Africa," responded Geography teacher Diane McGee. English teacher Lisa Thompson chimed in that Susso "did a fantastic job answering students' questions."
In addition to his presentations to the 7th grade, Papa Susso also shared some Yellow Sub sandwiches during an informal lunch/discussion with students from the ESL program, from the Southwest International Club, and with other students who showed special interest in learning about his art and culture. In this small group format, the students were able to listen to several reflections related to current issues in the Gambia, about life as an international musician, and about his project of preserving traditional music. One of the ESL students in our group was especially excited to participate in this lunch. Hailing from The Gambia herself, this student and Mr. Susso were able to converse in Mandinka. As she and Mr. Susso spoke with one another, they figured out that they are from the same area and that he had actually attended school with her father! (It is a small world after all!)
Southwest Junior High felt very fortunate to have Papa Susso visit during his time in Lawrence. As the ESL junior high magnet in Lawrence, our school's emphasis is to truly celebrate and take advantage of the tremendous diversity and cultural riches represented in our student body. Our principal, Dr. Trish Bransky, was especially supportive of this opportunity. "Mr. Susso's personable interaction with our students was very important. He shared information about his culture in a way that made the kids excited and interested to learn. I especially appreciated his emphasis on the importance of oral history and family relationships as unique aspects of his culture." As a school, we feel truly appreciative of KU's willingness to bring world artists to Lawrence and to facilitate their involvement in the public schools!