The United States Department of State Bureau of Educational and Cultural Affairs Office of Cultural Programs Division and Jazz at Lincoln Center present The Rhythm Road : American Music Abroad Program 2006 featuring: Annette A. Aguilar & StringBeans Latin Jazz Quartet Annette A. Aguilar (percussion), Freddie Bryant (guitar), Rob Thomas (violin and bass), and Barry Olsen (keyboard, trombone, percussion and vocal).
| Domestic and Eastern African Tour Itenerary |
MADAGASCAR
January 20-27
James D. McGee , US Ambassador
American Embassy Antananarivo
Ambassade Americaine
14 - 16 rue Rainitovo
Antsahavola
101 Antananarivo , Madagascar
Embassy contacts:
Ms. Ellen Irvine
Public Affairs Officer
(261) 22-1257 Ext. 2266 (office)
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Fidy Raharijaona
Cultural Affairs Assistant
22-21257 Ext. 2210 (office)
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Lanto Hariveloniaina
CAS
(261) 22-21257 Ext. 2282 (office) |
Hotel Colbert
29, Rue Prince Ratsimamanga
Antaninarenina, Antananarivo
Tel. 22-202-02
Fax. 22-340-12 |
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Larger than California and Oregon combined, Madagascar is the world's fourth largest island, after Greenland , New Guinea and Borneo .
Located 250 miles off the south-east coast of Africa , the island extends 1,000 miles in length and 360 miles at its largest width.
The island can be divided into three main parts: the East Coast, a narrow coastal strip abutting the steep slopes of the North-South mountain range, home of the rain forest; the Central Highlands, averaging 2500 to 4500 feet in altitude and culminating at 9430 feet, decorated with immense rice fields; and the West Coast, home of the baobabs and thorny forest. Coral reefs fringe a portion of the coast. Most plants and animals found in Madagascar exist only there.
Thirteen million Malagasy inhabit Madagascar . Exactly how and when the early Malagasy discovered and settled the island is not known. They have a dual Indonesian and African origin, attested by their physical features, language, agricultural practices, and customs. In spite of their diversity, they are united by a common language, rooted in the ancient Malayo-Polynesian. |
Friday, January 20
5:05pm Arrive Antananarivo via MD 139; you will be met by PAO Embassy
Expeditor at the Airport;
Dinner at hotel/evening free
Please confirm with local embassy rep concerning per diem.
Saturday, January 21
10:30am Breakfast with Ambassador & Mrs. McGee, PAO, CAS at Hotel Colbert; followed by organizational meeting w/PAO and PAS Staff (to go through the schedule)
1:15pm Depart hotel for American Cultural Center (ACC)
2:00pm Rehearsal at ACC w/Malagasy artists: Ms. Hanitra Rasoanaivo singer, Ms. Vahy Rakotozafiarison, Dancer/Instructor, National School of Music and troupe (six couples); Mr. Ratovonirina Ranaivovololona, Valiha player
5:30pm Depart ACC to return to Hotel Colbert
Dinner at hotel; evening free.
Sunday, January 22
10:00 am Depart hotel with PAO and CAS
10:45am Arrive President’s Palace (coffee break provided by PAS)
11:00 am Sound check
12:30am Lunch at Palace – catered sandwiches, vegetable & fruit platters provided by PAS
2:30pm Concert
4pm Reception
5pm Depart Iavoloha for Antananarivo
5:45pm Arrive Hotel Colbert
No Host Dinner/evening free
Monday, January 23
9am Pick up at hotel
9:30 - 12:30pm Vocal workshop at American Cultural Center (ACC)
1-2:30pm Representational luncheon with Music School at Palissandre restaurant
3-5pm Workshop with horns/guitar/percussion at the ACC
5pm Depart ACC to Hotel Colbert
6:45pm Depart Hotel Colbert to restaurant
7pm Representational dinner with musicians and promoters at restaurant Relais de la Haute Ville, topic: music as a business
Tuesday, January 24
Rest day: itinerary to be determined; can include visit to Lemur Park , shopping and other tourist options in and near Antananarivo or time for appointments with new contacts.
Wednesday, January 25
9:00am Pick up at hotel
9:30am (tbc) Interview with Tana’s only jazz station at ACC
10am-12pm Workshops with local musicians and singers at the ACC
12:30 pm No host lunch at Hilton Hotel --
2pm Sound check at Hilton ballroom
4pm Return Hotel Colbert
5:30pm Depart for Hilton
6:30pm Public performance – Hilton Hotel
8pm Return Hotel Colbert
Evening free
Thursday, January 26
Morning free; opportunity for appointments with new contacts (coordinated by PAS)
No host lunch
3:30pm Depart Hotel for Ambassador’s Residence (Note: this time is flexible; if the Quartet determines they’d like more time for sound check and set up, we’ll go earlier)
4pm Arrive Residence; sound check (PAS will provide light refreshments if Quartet wishes)
6:30pm Guests arrive for concert
7pm Concert (with local professional musicians)
8:30pm Reception/return to Hotel
Friday, January 27 - TRAVEL: ANTANANARIVO à NAIROBI à ADDIS ABABA , ETHIOPIA
7am Depart hotel for airport
9:45am Depart: Antananarivo on Air Mauritius #138
1pm Arrive: Nairobi ---connection--- Flight time: 3h15m
7:15pm Depart: Nairobi on Ethiopian Airlines #802
Arrive: Addis Ababa at 9:15pm --- Flight time: 2h
Please confirm with local embassy rep concerning per diem.
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ETHIOPIA
January 27-31
Vicki Huddleston, US Ambassador
U.S. Embassy Addis Ababa
Entoto Street
Addis Ababa .
Tel: 251-11 517 4000
Fax: 251-1-111-242454
Embassy contacts:
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The Ethiopian culture we know today may be said to date from between the ninth and eleventh centuries, coinciding with Axum 's political decline. Judaism and Islam grew to be powerful forces in Ethiopia . The Felasha (Jewish) queen Yodit, daughter of the quasi-legendary Gideon, led a destructive expedition against Axum around 980.
It is believed that following Yodit's death, a Christian king, Anbessa Wudim, returned to Axum to restore Christian control. The Zagwe dynasty, first based in Lasta, emerged around this time. Many of Ethiopia 's rock churches at Roha (now Lalibela) date from the reign of the Zagwe king Lalibela. A number of fortresses were also erected during this era.
King Yekuno Amlak ascended the throne in 1270. His origins are uncertain. The Kebre Negest (The Glory of the Kings), one of Ethiopia 's most important histories, describes his line's Solomonic descent. The story of Prester John, a legendary Christian ruler of Ethiopia , added luster to the Solomonic monarchs' rule.
In the fourteenth century, Emperor Amda Siyon made a serious effort at expansion, annexing territories and consolidating these into an Ethiopia which more or less conformed to the boundaries of
today. To do so, he suppressed ethnic movements and firmly established Ethiopia as an Amharic and Christian nation. He granted a form of autonomy to regional rulers as his feudal vassals with authority over gults, or fiefs, and accommodated Islam.
Zara Yakob, born in 1434, was one of Ethiopia 's most remarkable rulers. Renowned for his intelligence, he further developed what had already become two fundamental institutions of the Ethiopian state --Christianity and feudalism. He also instituted a new capital, at Debre Birhan in northern Shewa. Zara Yakob expanded his realm into Eritrea and established tenuous diplomatic ties with several European monarchs. |
What followed was a succession of lesser rulers who were forced to contend with Muslim incursions and foreign influences.
With Portuguese help, the Muslims, led by Ahmed Gragn, were again suppressed in 1543. This didn't bring an end to the hostilities, but it certainly limited serious uprisings. Portuguese and Catholic influence became greater. In 1632, the Emperor Fasil banished most foreigners and placed the Orthodox Church in its position of primacy.
Fasil resided at Gonder, which he made Ethiopia 's capital in 1636. It remained so for two centuries, and a period of prosperity began.
In Ethiopia , the title of "emperor" literally means "king of kings." By the nineteenth century, this role was essentially symbolic. Kasa Hayla, crowned Emperor Tewodros II in 1855, sought to change this situation. Though widely respected, he was a stern ruler whose policies were not universally embraced in Ethiopia .
In 1869, the British sent troops to subdue him. This was the first serious attempt by a European power to subvert Ethiopian sovereignty. Besieged at Makdela, Tewodros committed suicide.
A war of succession followed. In 1871, Emperor Takla Giorgis was defeated by the ruler of Tigray, Kasa Mercha, who happened to be his brother-in-law. Kasa Mercha was crowned Johannis IV in 1872, but his authority was challenged by certain regional leaders, such as Menelik of Shewa. In 1878, he signed the Leche Agreement in an attempt to regularize the political relationship between emperor and princes. Unfortunately, this didn't prevent the attempts of outside forces to "divide and conquer" Ethiopia by negotiating with the various princes.
Friday, January 27
9:15pm Arrive Addis Ababa
Met by Embassy staff and expediter
Proceed to Sheraton Hotel, check in. RON at Sheraton
Sheraton Hotel Addis
251-11 517 1717
Bookings have been made at the Sheraton for the nights of Jan 27 through 29 (check out morning of 30 th). Reservation numbers are as follows:
1. Annette A. Aguilar 71677725
2. Frederic Bryant Hollister 72677725
3. Barry Olsen 73677725
4. Robert Thomas 74677725
Please confirm with local embassy rep concerning per diem.
Saturday, January 28
7am Breakfast
8:30am load equipment and drive to Ethiopian National Theatre (a ten minute drive)
9:00am Arrive at Ethiopian National Theatre and visit the hall for set up and sound check
10am Open Rehearsal at the Ethiopian National Theatre including playing with the Theatre House Folkloric Ensemble
12n Lunch
Free afternoon
5:30pm Drive to the Ethiopian National Theatre
6pm Set up and sound check
7-8:30pm Concert for invited guests at the National Theatre Hall
This is the biggest performance of their three in Addis – we would like to suggest that they perform two 30-minute sets with a 15-minute intermission and during the second set, they perform with the Ethiopian National Theatre Folkloric Ensemble and Mulatu Astatkie (still not confirmed) known as the father of “Ethio-Jazz”. (Capacity: 1,200. Guests will include students from private and public high schools and colleges, musicians, cultural figures, professional Associations, NGOs, etc.)
9pm Load equipment and drive back to the Sheraton (10 minute drive). RON at Sheraton
Sunday, January 29
9:30am Free Morning for cultural enrichment (Optional for performers)
12:30pm Buffet Lunch at Top View Restaurant (with a great view of Addis) 15 minutes from hotel (optional for performers)
2:30pm Back to hotel to pick up equipment and drive to Yared Music school (10 minutes from hotel)
3pm Set up and sound check at Yared Music School in Addis
4:30-6pm Concert at Yared Music School
(Capacity: 400. Guests will be Music and Theater Arts students and professors from Addis Ababa University .) (Suggest one 40 minute set followed by Q&A and a final piece. Total length no more than 90 mins.
6:30pm Return to the Sheraton. RON at Sheraton
Monday, January 30
10am Workshop/Discussion with local artists and music people at the Sheraton Hotel: "Music as a Business" Cosponsored by the Ethiopian Intellectual Property Office.
Background Info: “Music as a Business Seminar”: we hope that the quartet will agree to take part in a discussion (at the Sheraton) with a small group of professional musicians and people in the local music business – about “Music as a Business.” They will be part of a panel that will also include other music professionals. We are co-hosting this with the Ethiopian Intellectual Property Office, and hope that the discussion can touch upon the issue of intellectual property rights -- a problem that Ethiopia currently struggles with in its entertainment industry.
11:30am End of session and (possible i nterview with local journalis ts)
12:30pm Lunch with selected contacts from the Music industry in Ethiopia
2:30pm Performance and jam session at the African Jazz Village .
African Jazz Village is an institution that was founded by Ethiopian jazz musician, Mulatu Astatkie to help promote jazz as an art form in Ethiopia . (venue size: 50-60)
7-8pm One-hour concert ( one 40-minute set with option for brief encore ) followed by a diplomatic reception to Celebrate U.S. National Day at Sheraton’s Lalibela Ballroom (800 guests expected). Reception optional for performers.
(NB: July 4 falls in the middle of Ethiopia ’s rainy season; as a result,, the Embassy holds its annual diplomatic reception at this time of year.) RON at Sheraton
Tuesday, January 31 - TRAVEL: ADDIS ABABA à DAR ES SALAAM , TANZANIA via Kilimanjaro
7:00am Lobby call
7:30am Check out of Sheraton, proceed to airport
10:10am Depart: Addis Ababa on Ethiopian Airlines #805.
Flight time: 4h30m
Please confirm with local embassy rep concerning per diem.
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TANZANIA
Jan. 31- Feb 5
Draft schedule as of Thursday, January 5, 10:45 a.m.
Michael Retzer, US Ambassador
American Embassy
686 Old Bagamoyo Road
Kinondoni, Dar es Salaam
Tanzania
Embassy contacts:
David Colvin
Public Diplomacy Officer
tel: (+255 22) 266 8001 ext. 4158
ColvinDR@state.gov
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Mainland Tanzania falls into three major geographical zones—a narrow lowland coastal strip along the Indian Ocean ; a vast interior plateau; and a number of scattered mountainous regions. The coastal zone (10-40 mi/16-60 km wide) receives considerable rainfall and has much fertile soil. The plateau (average elevation: 3,500-4,500 ft/1,070-1,370 m) extends over most of the interior and is cut in two places by branches of the Great Rift Valley . The western branch contains Lake Tanganyika and the eastern branch runs through central Tanzania about 500 ft (150 m) below the level of the plateau; the two branches merge just north of Lake Nyasa . The plateau receives little rainfall, but in most parts there is enough to support agriculture.
Virtually all of Tanzania 's inhabitants speak Bantu languages. There are approximately 130 ethnic groups.Inhabitants of Indian and Arab descent constitute approximately 1% of the population and are concentrated in Zanzibar . The Bantu-speaking peoples include the Sukuma (the republic's largest ethnic group), Bena, Chagga, Gogo, Ha, Haya, Hehe, Luguru, Makonde, Makua, Ngoni, Nyakyusa, Nyamwezi, and Nyaturu. In addition, the Masai speak a Nilotic language; the Sandawe speak a language akin to Khoikhoi; and the Iraqw speak a Cushitic language. Swahili and English are the republic's official languages; Arabic is also spoken on Zanzibar . About 45% of the mainland population is Christian, while 35% is Muslim, and about 20% follow traditional religious beliefs. The population of Zanzibar is almost completely Muslim. Tanzania 's urban population is growing rapidly. |
Tuesday, January 31
2:40pm Arrive: Dar es Salaam . Flight time: 4h30m
Sea Cliff Hotel
Toure Drive
Msasani Peninsula
P.O. Box 3030
Dar es Salaam
Tanzania
T: 255 22 260 03807
F: 255-22-2 600 476
Please confirm with local embassy rep concerning per diem.
Wednesday, February 1
am Workshop with students at Univ. of Dar .
pm Evening performance at Ambassador’s residence.
Thursday, February 2
am part II of University workshop.
pm Evening public performance.
Friday, February 3
Rest day (short flight to Zanzibar , tourism in Zanzibar )
Hotel: Serena Inn
P.O. Box 4151
Zanzibar
T:(255 24) 223 1015
Saturday, February 4
amWorkshop with music students in Zanzibar .
pm Evening public performance.
Sunday, February 5 - TRAVEL: ZANZIBAR à DAR ES SALAAM à NAIROBI
(tbd) return to Dar in the morning.
3:15pm Depart: Dar es Salaam on Kenya Airways #483
4:30pm Arrive: Nairobi . Flight time: 1h15m
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KENYA
February 5-12
William M. Bellamy, US Ambassador
U.S. Embassy Nairobi , Kenya
United Nations Avenue , Gigiri
P.O. Box 606 , Village Market,
00621 Nairobi , Kenya
Embassy contacts:
Aruna Amirthanayagam
Post Control Officer
Tel: 254-20-363-6204
Fax: 254-20-363-6353
Email: Aruna@state.gov
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Justus Mbae
FSN Cultural Specialist: CAS
Tel: 254-20-363-6194
Email: MbaeJG@state.gov
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The country, which lies astride the equator, is made up of several geographical regions. The first is a narrow, coastal strip that is low lying except for the Taita Hills in the south. The second, an inland region of bush-covered plains, constitutes most of the country's land area. In the northwest, straddling Lake Turkana and the Kulal Mts. , are high-lying scrublands.
In the southwest are the fertile grasslands and forests of the Kenya highlands. In the west is the Great Rift Valley , an irregular depression that cuts through W Kenya from north to south in two branches. It is also the location of some of the country's highest mountains, including Mt. Kenya (17,058 ft/5,199 m). Kenya 's main rivers are the Tana and the Athi. In addition to the capital, other important cities include Mombasa (the chief port), Nakuru , Kisumu , Thika, Machakos, and Eldoret.
People of African descent make up about 97% of the population; they are divided into about 40 ethnic groups, of which the Bantu-speaking Kikuyu, Luhya, Kalenjin, Kamba, and Gusii and the Nilotic-speaking Luo are predominant. Small numbers of persons of Indian, Pakistani, and European descent live in the interior, and there are some Arabs along the coast. The official languages of Kenya are Swahili and English; many indigenous languages are also spoken. About two thirds of the population is Christian, while a quarter follows traditional religious beliefs; the remainder are Muslim or Hindu. There are a number of universities, including the Univ. of Nairobi , Kenyatta Univ. , Egerton Univ. , and Moi Univ. |
Sunday, February 5
4:30pm Arrive in Nairobi and met at airport by Aruna
Check in:
Serena Hotel
Kenyatta Avenue
P.O. Box 46302
00100 Nairobi
Kenya
T: 254-20-2822000
F: 254-20-272518
Email: Nairobi@serena.co.ke
Please confirm with local embassy rep concerning per diem.
Monday, February 6
am Workshop at Kenyatta University
pm Concert at Ambassador’s residence
Tuesday, February 7
am Workshop at Kenyatta University
pm Concert at Ambassador’s residence
Wednesday, February 8
Workshop at USIU
Concert for Schools and Colleges at National Museums/National Theater
Thursday, February 9 - Rest Day
Friday, February 10
Concert at Fort Jesus , Mombasa
Saturday, February 11
Concert at Malindi
Sunday, February 12
Rest Day at Mobasa/Malindi
Monday, February 13
*This segment is an e-ticket. Please present passport at check-in counter for ticket.
tbd Depart for airport
11:20am Depart Nairobi on British Airways #6654
Arrive London at 5:05 am . Flight time: 8h45m
---connection---
8:20am Depart London on American Airways #115
Arrive NYC JFK at 11am . Flight time: 7h40m
Welcome home!
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Latin Brasilian jazz group Annette A Aguilar and StringBeans was selected
to travel abroad as part of the Kennedy Center Department of State Jazz
Ambassadors Program in 2005. Of the 46 quartets that auditioned, Annette
A Aguilar and StringBeans were one of the selected five. This year's
the ambassadors program emphasizes Latin Jazz.
The Kennedy Center Jazz Ambassador Quartet:
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Freddie Bryant: Guitar (12 string)
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Barry Olsen: Keyboard, Trombone, Percussion
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Rob Thomas: Violin/Bass
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Annette A Aguilar: Percussion
Annette A Aguilar and StringBeans is a Latin Brasilian jazz group that
incorporates Afro-Cuban, Afro-Brasilian Afro-Caribbean and jazz. The
group instrumentation is geared toward the sound of strings.
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