Ashley & Dox Daje @ Dialaw Fest in Senegal !

VERY excited to report on how The Music is building !! After you helped to finance our epic concert at the 2022 Saint Louis Jazz Festival in Senegal, I returned to Dakar to perform (and film) a handful of acoustic shows last November. Now, we have been invited to perform at the prestigious Dialaw Festival (two hours south of Dakar), which runs from April 26 - 30. The festival features a cross-section of performing arts, dance, theater, and visual arts from all over the world.

I am excited to perform with my newly-named band: Dox Daje. When the Institut Français in Dakar suggested that we create a band name (like Youssou Ndour & Le Super Étoile or Salif Keita & les Ambassadeurs), I asked the musicians to make one up for themselves. Though they all live in Dakar and most are Senegalese, the band also features musicians from Congo, Benin, and Côte d’Ivoire. Upon much deliberation, they chose the name “Dox Daje,” which means “a special encounter that creates something wonderful.” So we will be listed as Ashley Maher & Dox Daje. Yay!

My booking agent is also arranging a second concert in Dakar the following week.

I am asking for your support to help pay for musicians, rehearsals, transport, videographer, and dancers. From experience, I know that even while the festival will pay us a stipend, it won’t fully cover our costs. Luckily, I already have my plane ticket and will rent a room and live there for cheap, which helps a lot.

Once again, I thank you MOST sincerely for your kind annual generosity. My Biggest Dream is that soon the music will begin to pay for itself and I will finally be able to travel to share this music with you all in person. While I continue writing new material, filming videos and creating whenever / however I can, online, YOU are making all of this progress possible.

Thank you, Thank you, Thank you.

With all my Love,

Ashley