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Interview
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BBC News, Interview >>
Today's Global Hit started with a TV documentary back in 1989. English guitarist Martin Cradick happened to see it -- and it changed his life. The documentary was about the Baka people living in the forests of Cameroon.
Cradick and his girlfriend were so moved by the program that they decided to go to Cameroon and meet the Baka people in person. On that trip, Cradick recorded Baka musicians doing their thing. He had no plans to release the music commercially.
But a couple of years later, Baka music inspired Cradick to form a band. He called it "Baka Beyond." The band drew freely from Baka music, mixing in Celtic elements.
Two CD's were released and they sold VERY well. Cradick says that created a dilemma for band-members, who were well aware that the Baka musicians deserved a lot of the credit.
Martin Cradick: "So suddenly you have all this money coming in which belong to them basically. There was no mechanism to give money back to them so we set up a charity, and then we had to go back really to find out what to do with it. And on several visits we kept going back, talking to different people, sorted out a lot of misunderstandings that had been building up, found out really what they wanted and one of those things was to build a music house."
Cradick arranged for a builder to travel to Cameroon and help the Baka build that music house. The structure is used by the Baka as a meeting house. Cradick has also continued his recording sessions with the local musicians. The latest "Baka Beyond" CD is called "Rhythm Tree."
This tune is called "Boulez Boulez". It's based on a rhythm that Cradick stumbled upon.
Martin Cradick: "I happened to be walking through the forest with them and they were sort of clapping and singing this "Boulez Boulez" rhythm and I realized it was the same rhythm as an Irish slip jib and I had my mandolin with me. So we were dancing along the road, me playing a slip jig, them playing this rhythm."
Cradick says that he realizes his relationship with the Baka may seem complex. But he says he and his now-wife Su Hart always feel welcome.
Martin Cradick: " We're part of the family, I mean we've seen more people born and more people die there than I have here. But at the same time, especially since we started building the music house, some people started looking at me as the patron, because I'm providing work, which is a role I don't feel very comfortable in. But I understand why they see me like that. So there's quite a responsibility as well."
Martin Cradick and his band "Baka Beyond" start a US tour next month in Colorado.
Tour Schedule (visit website)
09/16/2005
Colorado Springs, CO
CANCELED
09/17/2005
Lyons, CO
Festival of the Mabon, Planet Bluegrass Ranch
09/18/2005
Chicago, IL
Chicago World Music Festival, Celtic Crossroads Stage
09/19/2005
Chicago, IL
Chicago World Music Festival, Martyr's Restaurant and Pub
09/21/2005
Bethlehem, PA
Celtic Classic Festival, Godfrey Daniels Listening Club
09/23/2005
Bethlehem, PA
Celtic Classic Festival, Tavern in the Glen
09/24/2005
Bethlehem, PA
Celtic Classic Festival, Grand Pavilion
09/25/2005
Bethlehem, PA
Celtic Classic Festival, Monocacy Moor 08/29/05 >> go there
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