|
Oakland
Tribune, June 19, 2003
Malonga
Casquelourd services, tributes set
Five days'
of celebration and tributes to the life of Congolese dancer, drummer and
teacher Malonga Casquelourd have been planned since his Sunday death, starting
tonight with a drumming event at the Alice Arts Center.
Mr. Casquelourd, whose dance troupe practiced at the Alice Arts Center, was
killed by a suspected drunk driver as he left a niece's graduation ceremony
shortly after 2 a.m.
His death has been a blow to the San Francisco Bay Area ethnic arts and dance
community and the artists at Alice Arts, who were used to seeing him in
the center's cafe.
The first tribute begins at 6 p.m. tonight at the center, 1428 Alice St., Oakland.
Friends, family and well-wishers are encouraged to bring an instrument
and join in the musical eulogy.
World Arts West, the engine behind the San Francisco Ethnic Dance Festival
concluding this weekend at the Palace of Fine Arts Theater in San Francisco,
has announced it will honor Mr. Casquelourd on Saturday and Sunday.
He was one of the festival's founding members and his Fua Dia Congo troupe
was scheduled to perform before his death. The group, which includes his
four children, have agreed to continue to perform.
Fua Dia Congo will perform its tribute at 2 and again at 8 p.m. Saturday and
at 2 p.m. Sunday. Tickets are $22 to $35 and can be purchased by calling
(415) 392-4400.
A quiet hour will be held 6 to 8 p.m. Monday at C.P. Bannon Mortuary, 6800
International Blvd., Oakland.
Funeral services will be at 10 a.m. Tuesday at Acts Full Gospel Church, 1034
66th Ave., Oakland.
Friends are asking for donations to help with the living expenses of his wife
and four children. To learn more, call (650) 326-3053.
Laura
Casey, Oakland Tribune, June 19, 2003
|