After a couple of songs I saw a small door to the left of the stage. I sneaked through and came to an opening right beside the musicians. At the moment Alpha YaYa made eye contact with me I froze, wondering what his response might be. But I was delighted to get the nod, and relaxed and had fun for the rest of the night. Now repeat that with the right film!

My film was too slow to freeze the motion of the musicians, and as expected, most of the pictures were garbage. But because it's impossible to capture the music of the moment in a still picture, I do like the lack of sharpness in some of these pictures. I prefer them to most of the flash pictures because of the sense of motion they give, and because they retain some of the stage-light colour. I also didn't want to be annoying people with a constantly-firing flash.

These interesting guys are from a town in Germany and are carpenters, belonging to an old guild. They give a new (old) meaning to the term, Journeyman. For three years, they must venture afar, supporting themselves with their trade, and cannot return to their home town during that time! They wear these clothes wherever they go.

Outside during one of the band's breaks, we had to take a picture of the steam rising off of this dance-sweat-soaked fellow. The camera had trouble focusing on it. I wasn't in quite the same sweaty condition as him, but the music was another good dose of medicine for my inhibitions.

Here are my favourites

I love the way Alpha YaYa Diallo's music
has enough punchy tempo to get a crowd out of their seats,
but with a peculiar beauty, sensitivity and optimism.