In 1978, Patrick McNaughton witnessed a bird dance masquerade in the                  small town of Dogoduman. He was so affected by this performance that its dazzling                  artistic power has never left him. As he revisits that very special evening in A                  Bird Dance near Saturday City, McNaughton carefully considers the components of the                  performance, its pace, the performers, and what the entire experience means for                  understandings of Bamana and West African aesthetics and culture. The performance of                  virtuoso dancer Sidi Ballo becomes McNaughton's vehicle for understanding the power                  of individuals in African art and the power of aesthetics as a cultural phenomenon.                  Topics such as what makes art effective, what makes it "good," how production is                  wrapped in individual virtuosity, and what individual artistry suggests about                  society reveal how individuals work together to create the indelible experience of                  outstanding performance. This exuberant and captivating book will influence views of                  society, culture, art, history, and their makers in West Africa for years to                  come.

A Bird Dance Near Saturday City: Sidi Ballo and the Art of West African Masquerade (African Expressive Cultures) PDF

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