The Mighty County Senegal
It was an inspired meeting of Senegal and Donegal last night in Set Theatre for an unique and remarkable music event.
Donegal’s finest fiddlers Fidil made a welcome return to the festival after playing to a jam packed house in Cleere’s Theatre in 2010. This time they were joined by Senegal’s Solo Cissokho and his nephew Sekou Keita on stage for what was a masterful mix of styles.
Set Theatre was packed to capacity for this gig, there was barely even standing room. Fidil kicked off proceedings with a 20 minute full tilt set and they were followed by Cissokho who was playing his kora, an amazing 21 string African harp. After the interval, both acts teamed up to rapturous applause before leaving the stage for a drum solo from Sekou Keita which brought the house down. Both acts played longer than scheduled such was the absolute craic that was happening in the theatre (as Fidil had promised earlier on).
It was certainly one of the happiest audiences we have seen filing out of an event so far with beaming smiles marching out the door shortly before midnight. Here’s to more musical magic from County Senegal!
