Lotus season opens with peek at annual event

As soon as West African artist Mamadou Diabate took the stage carrying what appeared to be a large onion, the audience immediately realized that they were in for something special. In reality, Diabate's instrument was a kora, and his performance was one of the many events of the night which culturally broadened Bloomington residents' and students' minds.\nAn annual event, the Lotus World Music Festival brings over two dozen musical groups and their respective cultures to Bloomington every September. \n"(There is a) partnership between the city and the festival," said Bloomington Mayor Mark Kruzan. "Lotus is making the world a little bit smaller and (helping to) bridge the international divide." \nThe city of Bloomington has allocated an additional $15,000 a year to support the festival, making a new event possible. Friday, for the first time, Summer Night of Lotus made its debut at the Buskirk Chumley Theater. \nThe concert featured Diabate, Irish fiddle and guitar players Liz Carroll and John Doyle, and zydeco group "Geno Delafose & French Rockin' Boogie." \nPrimarily held to raise money for the Lotus Festival and support cultural events, Summer Night of Lotus featured many volunteers and various charitable sales.\nVolunteer Tina Jernigan said, "(I volunteer at Lotus) because it's just a bunch of good people and lots of fun. It's also great to learn about other cultures so you can be more compassionate. There is less fear; you don't fight your friends."\nTo support its motto of, "Bringing the world to our neighborhood," the Lotus organization sold collectible pins for $5 each. Those interested in supporting Lotus can still purchase pins at select locations around town, including Bloomingfoods and the Irish Lion. Additionally, the IU Press recently published a book about the Festival, available online. \nThough the organization was trying to win additional support, the primary focus of Summer Night of Lotus was its featured artists. From the enchanting harp-like melodies of Diabate's kora to the catchy Celtic tunes of Carroll and Doyle, the audience was completely dazzled by fresh new sounds. In the final set of the night, zydeco (Cajun-style) artist Geno Delafose caused patrons to literally jump up out of their seats, run down the aisles, and start dancing in front of the stage. \nWhile the kora music was lyric-free and hypnotic, it captured the audience's attention just as well as Carroll and Doyle's stringed duets, which often featured Doyle's voice. Delafose's unique zydeco style, which included an accordion, drums, and an array of other instruments, lit up the stage in a completely different way. The majority of the audience was truly happy to be encountering instruments and melodies they had never heard before.\n"I just love Lotus because it exposes you to all different music and people from around the world," said supporter Hilary Weimer. "I think it's important to have a better understanding of people in general." \nIn addition to a diverse array of music, concert attendees also received a preview of featured artists for September's festival. The festival does not have a concrete list of all performers yet, but they are expecting about 29 musical acts from around the world. Among projected artists are musicians from Brazil, Sweden, Mali, and the Comoros Islands.\nFriday night's concert was filled with a certain sense that music is a universal language; one that can help bring people with all kinds of differences together. The music and showmanship were added bonuses, but a feeling of coming together for a better understanding of each other permeated the event.\n"Lotus is important on a lot of levels … it demonstrates the humanity in all of us," said Bloomington resident Kevin Miller.