Documentary film focuses on vanishing music of Gabon.

Featuring Afropop legend, this documentary examines the musical diversity of the West African Nation of Gabon

Directed by Josh Ponte

THE MISSION: A 3,400-mile (5,500-kilometer) road trip-yielding a film and two CDs-to showcase Gabonese traditional music and draw attention to the importance of cultural conservation in developing countries

"Gabon: The Last Dance" is the original soundtrack to a unique documentary film, directed by One Giant Leap alum Josh Ponte, that shines a spotlight on the edangered music and culture of the West African nation of Gabon.

In a world where wilderness and distinctive cultures are increasingly scarce, Gabon is a unique and remarkably preserved Garden of Eden. Its natural systems are intact and include the largest section of pristine rainforest in Africa. Its inspiring wildlife consists of the largest population of elephants on the continent, more than 700 species of birds, 70 reptile species and 190 different mammals.

The forest belt across central Africa, with Gabon at the western edge, is widely understood to be the cradle of humanity. In Gabon alone, there is evidence of human inhabitancy dating back 400,000 years. Rural communities live with profound understanding of the natural world that they are part of and still follow cultural traditions of the forest. As development and natural resource exploitation spread to the most remote places on the planet, the young are drawn by the lure of the cities and ancient knowledge is being eroded with the death of every elder.

In August 2002, President Bongo Ondimba of Gabon signed a decree that created 13 national parks to preserve his country's natural and cultural heritage. The creation of these protected areas was based on years of sociological and scientific exploration that enabled the President to stamp an almost optimal national parks network onto his country's varied social and ecological landscape, whilst respecting rural peoples' traditional lands and cultures.

The national parks of Gabon are still in their infancy and to date, the focus has been on the practicalities of conserving the natural biodiversity based on a scientific approach. An important part of the process for situating the parks, was identifying and excluding areas important to the human communities. This process was helped by the fact that Gabon has an exceptionally low human population, particularly in rural areas. The people living around the parks are vital to their success. This is their land and they carry the knowledge and skills of their people who have lived in these forests for millennia, not in conflict but in harmony

"A group of us came together to embark on an extraordinary journey," says director Josh Ponte. "Our team included the father of Gabonese music, Pierre Akendengue, and his protégé, a rising star and role model for young Gabonese, Annie-Flore Battchielillys. We traveled 5,000 km in 5 weeks to meet the most remote communities all over Gabon, visiting the broadest range of the 45 or so ethnic groups that live there. We went to record their music and film their lives but the people we met and the music we heard changed us all.
Despite hardships, the people of Gabon have traditions and culture that plays a central role in their lives. It provides their social structure and defines their community."

From a musical perspective the journey was best described by ethnomusicologist, Ivan Lantos, who toured with the crew: "Gabon is the musical equivalent a biologist finding a living example of an animal previously thought to be extinct."

The Pygmies effortlessly sing polyphonic harmonies, an ability they share only with some Inuit and the aboriginal Australians. Calypso is played out with six xylophones by Fang tribes who don't know where the Caribbean is and children in the south beat out complex 5/8 rhythms as easily as we kick a football. There are instruments that are played by only a few and songs, dances and ceremonies on the brink of extinction locked in the memories of the elders.

The crew filmed and recorded more than 100 hours of music, dance ceremonies and interviews, giving people a voice in an unusually informal way. The result is "Gabon: The Last Dance", a docomentary that provides an intimate window on the tender lives of theses communities. Their spirit, a reflection of the true wealth of sub-saharan Africa and its people.

Nat Geo Music TV
Saturday, January 24th, 2009
* premiere
repeated on: January 25th, 27th and 30th, 2009


2008 - 5th Anniversary Montana CINE International: The Last Best Film Fest | October 6-12, 2008 | Presented by International Wildlife Media Center & Film Festival | Missoula, USA
* Merit Award for Presentation on Cultural Issues
www.wildlifefilms.org/festivals/mtcine/2008%20CINE%20Film%20Descriptions.pdf