Throw Down Your Heart: Bela Fleck Finds the Banjo’s African Roots

Posted by Mary Anne Potts on November 3, 2009
(7)
More »

American banjo virtuoso Bèla Fleck is known for bringing his instrument across genres. Today you can watch him bring it across the Atlantic and back to its beginnings in his new DVD.

Fleck and Sascha Paladino's documentary, Throw Down Your Heart, chronicles the making of Fleck's latest CD as he travels Africa in an attempt to bring the banjo back to its African roots. The film focuses on music, but there's a taste of African landscape and culture too. Fleck's adventure takes him to Uganda, Tanzania, Gambia, and Mali, with stops ranging from tiny rural villages to large cities.

Whether searching for the roots of your favorite instrument or a glimpse of an endangered gorilla, you can explore the continent, too. Check out our favorite African adventures here.—Greer Schott

(7)
More »

Related posts:

  1. Deal of the Week: South African Steal in Kruger, Cape Town
  2. Music Wednesday: South African Legend Miriam Makeba Dies
  3. Survivor: Gabon—Authentic African Drama in High Def
  4. Voluntourism: Luxury Meets Giving Back on Micato’s Heart of Kenya Safari

Comments

  1. Jennifer Swanson
    November 4, 2009, 5:02 am

    Bèla Fleck has traveled to Africa in this documentary which is very interesting to know where the Banjo comes from. I was talking to a friend of mine from Lake Tahoe hotel reservations office and he told me that Bèla Fleck is coming to Tahoe soon. Does anybody know anything about that?

  2. Jennifer Swanson
    November 4, 2009, 5:36 am

    by the way my friend works for http://www.laketahoehotelreservations.org you check out.
    Best Regards,
    Jennifer

  3. Cables
    November 9, 2009, 1:51 am

    Hi,
    Fleck is doing good job for such interesting project in Africa.I will wait for the CD to see adventurous work of finding roots in such great places of Africa.

  4. New York Hotel
    January 11, 2010, 7:51 am

    I like African landscape and culture, they are wonderful. I did some traveling tours in US and Europe, next vacation I want to spend in Africa. I watch some documentaries about this piece of world they impressed me on a good side. Now what I need is to plan very well everything:) Thanks for your post:)

  5. Jason
    August 15, 2011, 11:23 pm

    Yes, I just want to throw down my heart to go there…

  6. knockoff handbags
    September 7, 2011, 2:05 pm

    htrdgd I always gain new ideas here. very goo site. I give you 10 out of 10.
    .
    Nice hosting! It’s my first time to read like this article.

  7. cheap car insurance
    November 15, 2011, 2:53 pm

    Top of the list is his shelter! It is quite easy to stay dry with a primitive shelter that can have a fire inside it. Next, he kept saying he needed a “big” fish.