In late november 2009 Martin Cradick and Andi Main of Global Music Exchange went to Cameroon. Martin to organise the performers' programme and publicity for the festival of traditional music (Under the Volcano) and an evening party for the Adventurists Rally who had driven all the way from London.

My role was to design the stage and setting then travel down to Moloundou to help the 20 Baka performers prepare for the long journey from their forest home to Limbe for the event on the 16th of January

The picture is Down Beach, Limbe during a first visit to prepare for the "Under the Volcano Festival" A lovely town with very helpful and friendly people. The chosen site in the Botanic Gardens is beautiful.

Then in early december the road to the east. . .

There is now tarmac as far as Bertoa but the last 500km are still dirt and had suffered in the rains.

As always Alliance Voyages managed to struggle down to Moloundou where I found a great welcome at Gbiné

Ibunga and Marie with the music house and a now huge mangoe tree behind.

Very sadly Ibunga died in february. She came to Britain in 2006 with the Baka muscians and will be greatly missed by the whole community.

Alpha has been holding regular morning classes for the pre school children.

The building is working well and the books donated by the school in Massat, where I live in the South of France, gave him a whole new impetus.

My arrival coincided with Freddie's Beka ceremony when his proud mother sees her boy become a man.

Another occasion for a lot of song and dance with wild drumming to keep him awake through the night.

Just a reminder that water is a problem for everyone.

Here the Bantu children bring the pousse-pousse back from the spring to the village of Banana

I had the priviledge of spending a few days in the forest at Djamba fishing, weaving baskets, gathering firewood and food. Living in a cool mongolou in the shade of the forest trees.

Minda and Nyergi smoked part of their catch to take back to Gbine

Nawia making a dancing skirt for the festival. The fibres are beaten out of roots.

Back to Limbe where Joseph one of the Limbe council carpenters is helping to build the stage.

The Baka's first performance at the festival. A wonderfull event with a host of varied traditional groups demonstrating the incredible diversity of Cameroonian culture, and a great party with the adventurists in the night.

For most of the twenty Baka who came up from the forest it was the first time they had seen the sea.
Ngallo and Djimbo with Martin in the waves

20th Jan another three day Alliance voyage back to the east,stopping to do concerts in Bertoa and Yokaduma

Andi and Erasmus the cameraman with Dondolo the Baka chief

The Incredible work load of women. Benjoko helps Mbundo offload about 40kg of plantain and firewood

Site improvements included laying white stones along the side of the track to slow down visiting motorbikes

Su with some of her singing friends

New bench on the music house stage.

Raffia bench for visiting dignitaries

With help from the Baka we managed to get the cladding on the Bantou chief's house.

9th Feb. Already time to leave Gbiné. A fine send off and a farewell photo with Yeye, Kombe, Ndondi and Windouma

Met up with UNESCO volonteers from Cameroun 09 to finish the Baka school at Apadjow near Abong Mbang

The finished classroom at Apadjow