I remember everything, but I'm trying to believe that it actually happened. Here's how it went down:
We finished our final class and final presentations, and then promptly headed downstairs and drank beer. Then we went home for dinner, got dressed up, and headed out to a club. We were planning on going to Duplex, which is a swanky club downtown, but it was closed, so we went to Diamond instead. Diamond is another swanky club, but we got in for free rather than the usual $10.
Then Meredith and Christine chatted up the owner of the club, who said we could get free entry any time. Then he gave us a bottle of Absolut vodka and juices and ice for drinks. We saw later that they charge $100 for that bottle of alcohol normally.
Meredith and Theresa and I went and ate a snack at the restaurant in the club, and then we met some interesting people. First was Al Hassan, the famous soccer player who plays in France. He's in Dakar for a concert and to work with his association that provides aid and Christmas gifts to Talibe (quaranic scholar children who are forced to beg in the streets). He was extremely amused by our Senegalese names and sat down at our table with us to chat.
Then his other friends came over--a rapper and an MC. I didn't get to talk to the rapper much, but I spent a lot of time with the MC, who called himself YD. He knew all kinds of famous artists, and he'd MC'd for most of them. He was doing a lot of MC work for the World Festival of Black Arts, which just started in Dakar. The festival has attracted various presidents and tourists from all over the world. There are artists from everywhere here right now, and there are free concerts every night. It's crazy, and I'm loving it. So apparently YD is super involved in the festival, which means he's connected like crazy.
As the night went on, more and more famous artists and people kept coming in to the club and seeing their friends with us and chatting with us. It was a great time and kind of surreal. Lesson learned: go clubbing on Tuesdays and speak Wolof as much as possible.
What a great Tuesday night.
Wow! That sounds so great! You never know what amazing things are waiting for you! BTW, how much damage was done to the Absolut :-)
ReplyDeleteVery interesting evening. You certainly picked the right club (or stunned them into submission)...free entry, free vodka, converstaions with very interesting and connected people. Now you have opened windows for more future adventures. Enjoy it all!
ReplyDeleteHaha totally jealous! You take some awesome photos by the way, I really enjoy reading about all your adventures! I went to a show called Cavalia for my bday. It is done by the same art director that started Cirque du Soleil. It incorporated both circus stuff and equestrian arts. They didn't do silks exactly but they did a single rope, with drops and such like I saw on your videos! Good Luck with your show!
ReplyDelete