Axehole

Vado Diomande, 44, a New York drum maker and performer, has contracted inhalation anthrax. Authorities believe that he may have contracted the illness from raw animal hides that he imports from Africa to build drums.

Diomande had recently travelled to Africa and became ill shortly after returning to the US. He had brought goat hides with him when he returned. Goat hides are used in the construction of djembe drums.
It’s not clear yet whether he came into contact with Anthrax in Africa, or was exposed to it though the skins he brought back.

Several others are believed to be exposed to anthrax spores and are being treated with antibiotics.
Anthrax spores are found in soil in many parts of the world, and livestock can become infected by eating contaminated soil or feed. People can then pick up the infection if they come into contact with contaminated hides or other animal parts.

Investigators are seeking samples of the hides to test for spores.

Anthrax infections must be treated early with antibiotics for the best chance of recovery. The inhalation form of the disease has a fatality rate of about 75 percent, even with antibiotics.

From a note on Diomande’s site:

This is a tragedy. It is devastating because Vado is sick. It is horrifying because, no matter how improbably, it can happen to artisans and factory workers and others who deal with unprocessed hides. It is scary to all because we didn’t even know it existed before. Now we do. And, with you we share what we know.

If for one moment you simply contemplate what Vado (and his loved ones) are suffering, all for the art of making drums, sharing music and dance and culture…your heart will bleed as our’s does. They have lost so much, and Vado continues to fight.

If you want to help, please do send notes of encouragement and, if you can, make a small donation. The medical bills, the loss of work…the Diomandes will struggle very hard even once they are physically safe. We are setting up a fund to support them. We will post more information here soon.

Blessings and Health to you and yours. Be present and love each other - we are one, no matter how different we may seem.

If you wish, look through the web site to learn more about Vado, the wonderful company he runs to bring joy and knowledge to the American community, and learn about the powerful and beautiful traditional art they endeavor to share with us.

Diomande has been a dancer and drummer since he was a child, according to a Web site for his dance troupe. When he was a teenager he danced with the National Ballet of the Ivory Coast and toured all over the world. He founded his own dance company in 1989.