Posted // November 1,2010 - Jeremy Arndt is a local artist and businessman who recently traveled to Africa and took his camera and guitar to document the experience. An exhibition featuring pictures he took during his journey is currently on display at The Tea Grotto (2090 S. 900 East), and he is planning a musical tour of the western United States with his brother starting in December. For more information, visit JeremyArndt.webs.com.
Why Africa?
I have always had a desire to go to those faraway places. When I was a child, I spent hours pouring through my grandmother’s National Geographic magazines and studying the exotic animals of the world. I was a little naive about Africa until the opportunity arose, and then began researching and reading about Africa, its people, its music, etc. I discovered that West Africa is often considered the heartbeat of the world when it comes to music. It was like fate was sending me there!
You stayed with families or sometimes slept outdoors, so you and were completely submerged in the culture. What was it like?
So far, it was the richest experience of my life. Out of six months, I only spent nine total nights in hotels. The rest of my time was spent sleeping everywhere: the sands of the Sahara, the rooftops of Bamako, huts in the Fouta Djalon forest region of Guinea, living with local families and young adults. I stayed with families that were amongst the poorest to families that were in good financial positions. Everywhere I went I was treated with the utmost hospitality. Living among people that had (comparatively) so little, yet were so in love with life, has completely reshaped my outlook on life and is something that will never leave me.
Are you planning to return?
When I was in Mali, my friend Oumar and I formed a group consisting of African musicians and one other American musician. Both Oumar and I have a similar vision for a band of musicians around the world, and are currently working on meeting the people we need to put it together. This winter I will be traveling to Australia, New Zealand, and hopefully Japan, to delve further into my musical explorations. Next winter, I am hoping to go to India, to learn more of their culture and music and to find any musicians willing to work on the project with us. Within five years, I hope to head back to West Africa so we can make this happen.
Why Africa?
I have always had a desire to go to those faraway places. When I was a child, I spent hours pouring through my grandmother’s National Geographic magazines and studying the exotic animals of the world. I was a little naive about Africa until the opportunity arose, and then began researching and reading about Africa, its people, its music, etc. I discovered that West Africa is often considered the heartbeat of the world when it comes to music. It was like fate was sending me there!
You stayed with families or sometimes slept outdoors, so you and were completely submerged in the culture. What was it like?
So far, it was the richest experience of my life. Out of six months, I only spent nine total nights in hotels. The rest of my time was spent sleeping everywhere: the sands of the Sahara, the rooftops of Bamako, huts in the Fouta Djalon forest region of Guinea, living with local families and young adults. I stayed with families that were amongst the poorest to families that were in good financial positions. Everywhere I went I was treated with the utmost hospitality. Living among people that had (comparatively) so little, yet were so in love with life, has completely reshaped my outlook on life and is something that will never leave me.
Are you planning to return?
When I was in Mali, my friend Oumar and I formed a group consisting of African musicians and one other American musician. Both Oumar and I have a similar vision for a band of musicians around the world, and are currently working on meeting the people we need to put it together. This winter I will be traveling to Australia, New Zealand, and hopefully Japan, to delve further into my musical explorations. Next winter, I am hoping to go to India, to learn more of their culture and music and to find any musicians willing to work on the project with us. Within five years, I hope to head back to West Africa so we can make this happen.
Hey Jeremy... I am so proud of you. I was not so thrilled with your travels at first, more scared for your safety but you seem to be doing well. If you get to Pa.. I have a place for you to sleep and of course I will always feed you. Miss you and Love you lots! XOXOX..stay safe in your travels. I hope you and justin have a good time together!
Jeremy Arndt is an innovator and so creative!! His talent fresh and legit.
You are an amazing nephew - I am proud of you and glad you are taking this opportunity now in your life to enrich, self educate and explore healthy venues for enlighenment. Stay safe.
xoxoxo - your wise aunt linda
I would just like to say thanks to Julianna for this opportunity, and also give credit for the photo to my friend Amber Crago, an amazingly talented photographer who splits her time between California, Hawaii, and Japan. Her website is www.glorioustorture.com if anyone would like to check out the work of another fellow world traveling artist : )
As a fellow traveler, I'm very curious about how you fund your trips. I know from experience that visiting Africa can be extremely expensive. Considering what airlines have done to the industry, buying tickets to almost any location is expensive anymore.
How will you afford visiting Australia and Japan in one winter? How do you afford the time?
To fund my trips, I've often had to work two jobs for the money. Sometimes I look for a 0% credit card, put the trip on that, and pay it off before the interest kicks in.
How do you do it? Trust fund? Several jobs? Rich parents?