The 2020 edition of Black History Month (BHM) kicked off at the West African Research Center (WARC) in Dakar on Wednesday February 5th in the afternoon with the screening of the film Remastered: the Devil at the Crossroads. This documentary takes a look at the short, mysterious life of Robert Johnson, the blues singer, songwriter and musician who has significantly influenced later generations of musicians. The document title comes from the myth about how he made a deal with the devil at the crossroads in rural Mississippi to achieve musical success. This is reminiscent of one of James Brown’s tunes « A Man Has to go Back to the Crossroads to Find Himself » and also of the West African myth whereby the mandinka world famous musical instrument, the Kora (21 strings), was bestowed on the first mandinka player by a spirit which came out straight from the waters. The session was chaired and moderated by Fulbrighter and CAORC fellow, Hilary Jones, Associate Professor of History at Florida International University (Miami). The event was attended by 27 people including reporters, visiting and local researchers, students and members of the larger public.
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