Find out about the Historic Black Banjo Then and Now Gathering go
to www.blackbanjo.com. Navigate to the "About the Gathering"
window
and click on the performers and presenters link.

It's no secret that the banjo, arguably the quintessential
American instrument, has African roots. But the instrument has long
been out of favor with black Americans, the very descendants of the
people who brought it to these shores centuries ago.

A small of group of black banjo players are reviving the
lost traditions of the banjo, and continuing the great music of
black banjo players of the 20th century. Their efforts are behind
the first "Black Banjo Then and Now Gathering," April 7-10 at
Appalachian State University in Boone, North Carolina.
Organizers want to speak to a new generation of African-American
performers, while celebrating the elders of traditional African-
American music.

"We want to talk about the banjo from the (African American)
perspective: how does it relate to our lives in 2005, in terms of
making black music… as a black person," said Tony Thomas, one
of the
organizers of the conference. Thomas, who also owns and moderates an
online board for black banjo enthusiasts, said predicts about 200-
300 people will come to the conference. That's many more than he
initially expected.

"At first we thought we'd just be 40 or 50 people, meeting
in a classroom," he said.

Those who do come will hear Ulf Jagfors of Sweden and Daniel
Jatta of The Gambia, West Africa, and Cheick Hamala Diabate of Mali,
West Africa discuss the African origins of the banjo.

They will listen to Joan Dickerson, of the University of
Pittsburgh, demonstrate the classical banjo style popular during the
early 20th century, and Cecelia Conway, a folklorist who teaches at
Appalachian State University, who will present her seminal research
on the African-American influences in Appalachian music.

And they'll get a chance to see living elders such as Etta Baker
and
Algia Mae Hinton, who are known for their mastery of Piedmont blues.
"This is the first time that many …. Black musicians have
ever met
an elder traditional black banjo player," Conway said.
"It's
fantastic that this is starting to happen when there are still a few
of these old people playing. "

check out blackbanjo.com or join our Yahoo Group Black Banjo Then
and Now!