West Africa on the shore of Lake Simcoe
The pair were joined by their friend and fellow musician, Lewis Melville of Guelph, ON. Lewis was instrumental in arranging Jah's first Canadian tour in 2007. It was during that visit that Stellula Music founder Deb Brown first met and presented Youssouf to the Georgian Bay community of Penetanguishene,
"Presenting him in the library in the heart of a french community made sense. The interaction with the children, particularly the very young who were trying the kora (hunter's harp) and asking questions, was so inspiring. That workshop gave a real life experience with world music they would not otherwise have. I was so pleased to learn he was returning to Canada and took great pleasure in bringing him back to Simcoe County," Brown said.
Jah's tour is nearing its end, which was an extraordinary accomplishment in itself, as he had suffered a serious stroke and became paralysed after returning to Mali in 2007. Remarkably, he recovered fully, and is back in Canada on his second cross-country tour.
Simcoe County is one of the last concerts on the 2009 tour for the pair which Melville describes as "the world's greatest" n'goni players. Lewis also shared with the audience the significance of Mali as the region where stringed instruments got their start along with "the Blues".
Although Jah will be leaving Canada, Stellula will have a souvenir of his visit, as the group has acquired one of his koras (hunter's harp), made by Jah and painted by the women of his village. It will be on display in Orillia and other communities in the region, and brought into the schools so children can see and play the instrument.