700 years of musical lineage is in danger in Ivory Coast. Adama Dembele is a 33rd generation musician from Ivory Coast, West Africa, who resides in Asheville, NC. On January 12, 2015, the Ivory Coast government demolished his home and many others in Abobo, Ivory Coast, a city of 1.5 million people. The reason given for this demolition was that the ground was eroding and unsafe, a fact that is common in this part of the country with very little infrastructure. But hundreds of people were pushed out of their homes with one week’s notice and given no temporary housing or shelter. Many families and children are now living on the streets. Government officials have told people that “they are on a list,” but haven’t said where or when they will rebuild their homes, or even if they will rebuild.
The Dembele family residence, including the Djembeso Drum & Dance Education Center, was a place for people of all ages to study drumming, dance, and learn about West African culture. Local Asheville, NC musicians have traveled to study there, including members of Zansa and Toubab Krewe, as well as hundreds, if not thousands, of others from around the world. The Dembele household has been a link between Asheville and West Africa for over a decade. The residence had been in the Dembele family for more than 70 years. It was a haven for locals to get off the streets and learn the music and history of their people.
Members of Zansa and other supporters of Asheville’s West African community are speaking out against this human rights violation and raising funds to help the Dembele family continue to grow their musical legacy. We need to rebuild this house and music compound not just for this generation, but for generations to come.
Link to Indiegogo campaign: www.indiegogo.com
