I am looking forward to discussing my book 'Notes From Africa' with eminent writer Carlo Gebler on Thursday 4th October at 7 p.m. as part of the Fermanagh Live festival. Carlo describes the book as "An amazing compendium, a musicologist's bible." For me it has been a vivid and exciting personal journey that began when I met Youssou N'Dour in Dakar back in 1984 and continued through memorable meetings and thrilling musical performances by the likes of Ali Farka Toure, Richard Bona, Amina, Cheikh Lo, King Sunny Ade and their collaborators such as Sting, Peter Gabriel, Bruce Springsteen, Stevie Wonder, Neneh Cherry and others. I was happy to see Youssou again at his recent BBC Prom at the Royal Albert Hall for which I wrote the programme notes. Photo credit Miyoko Akiyama