djembefeeling wrote:While all of us probably agree that Sekou Toure was a dictator who did many bad things (by the way: more than a quarter of the population fled the country, there where concentration camps, Toure tried to commit genocide? where do these numbers and information come from? never heard about accusations that severe...)
The Wikipedia page cites a number of sources. I've read quite a few books about African history, and they all agree that he was a mass murderer. There are also the documents about Camp Boiro. (There was thread around here mentioning that.)
Bubudi and I tried to point out that there are reasons for some to see the time under SeckouToure in a nostalgic way. Many former inhabitants of Eastern Germany do so, even though people where killed and supressed and the complete country was imprisoned for decades. Still, for many individuals it was the time of their live and they cling to the positive sides, even the educated ones (education doesn't really change that. the Nazis where particularly successful among university folks).
I think, those people have a right to their own perspective on their history.
Sure, they do. Anyone is entitled to believe anything they choose about someone like Erich Honecker or Sekou Touré. Just as I am free to point out that, no matter what good these men did for some parts of the population, that doesn't diminish the magnitude of their crimes. To me, a right and a wrong do
not cancel, especially not when it comes to mass murder.
As Flaig points out, the drummers in Guineas ballets where such representative and there are indications that Mamady and Famoudou still feel that way.
Yes. And a large part of it is ignorance, and maybe repression and denial. What would I do in their situation, being twenty years old, with essentially no education, poor as a church mouse, and being offered a chance at fame and international travel and a secure (if meagre) income? I would probably also think that the guy is nice.
But Famoudous sons? I don't think so. They do feel rather as entrepreneurs of the djembe than representatives of their country, I'd guess. And this track called Seckou Toure might be an indication of just that (even though we still don't know what the song is about).
I have no idea how Famoudou's sons feel. It's still disappointing to me though that this track appears on a CD with that title. Not that it's up to me to berate them. And I totally believe that it may well have happened because of ignorance rather than denial. If someone could show them what really went on back then, Famoudou's sons might well be aghast.
Cheers,
Michi.