African Drums
October 23, 2012 * * * * * Posted by: Carola 
Last week my daughter’s choir had their first concert of the school year. This fall concert was an African concert when the choir performed songs from African countries. We heard traditional Zulu, Zambian and Nigerian folk songs, a freedom song of South Africa and the “Famine Song”, inspired by Sudanese basket weavers – this song really got under my skin.
Although the choir was excellent, the true highlight of the evening was the performance of the special guests, The New Life Band from Tanzania. They started out singing with the choir, an African Processional, “Jambo rafiki yangu” (welcome friend) and then took over the stage. Within a few minutes, the entire hall was “on fire”. Their traditional African drum rhythms could hardly keep me in my seat. These eight highly talented musicians had a unique way to reach out through close harmonies, contemporary music of Africa – and those incredible drums. They got us out of our seats, dancing and clapping and singing a few words in Swahili – it was magical. There wasn’t a single person sitting in the audience, everybody was moving to the rhythm of the music. Those drums – they really got us going.
The real moving part, however, was found in their stories. They work with a ministry in a small village 15 km away from Arusha. Their music is their way to raise money for their village to build a school (the choir at my daughter’s high school supports this school). With all the support they have got through their highly popular youth camps and concerts – they come to the US and our school every three years (which means we’ll have another chance to see them before my daughter graduates in 2016) – they were able to build their village school, and a few students of our high school even helped with the construction. They talked about what it means for these kids to be able to attend school, to learn and thus have a brighter future. They reminded us how often kids in the US (and, I want to add, in many Western civilizations) don’t want to go to school, drop out or just waste this time while they should learn in order to have a future. They mentioned how privileged we are. You could hear the audience grow very quiet – yes, we are so privileged, we take so many things for granted.
It made me feel grateful. Grateful that my daughter gets a good education she takes seriously, that her future is wide open. I’m thankful that I don’t have to be afraid that someone shoots her just because she wants an education. That she doesn’t have to sit on the floor but in an air-conditioned room. That she doesn’t have to share her textbook with ten other students.
During intermission, the band sold necklaces from their native country – another way to raise funds for their school. I bought one for my daughter, as a reminder of this particular concert and all the blessings we have in our life.
Bwana Awabariki – may God grant you a blessing.
Reader Comments (19)
Beautiful reminder Carola of how lucky we and our children are leaving in North America of any of the Western countries, where children have access to education. The energy you felt during this concert is still palpable in your words and I imagine your daughter is going to carry the lessons of that night for a long time.
Bwana Awabariki – may God grant you a blessing to you too :-)
Such a timely reminder. Each day I try and find things to be grateful about and it is some time since I have added not only my further education, but more simply my ability to read and write. Thank you.
And there is something about drums isn't there? Stirs the heart...
I've just spent at least 15 minutes Googling The New Life Band and LOVE what I have found, Carola. I bet Eliza knows all about them, so suddenly the world just got smaller. I'm thrilled for you and your daughter's school to have such other-worldly interests besides your own ethnocentric backyard. We need to hear more stories like this. Thank you for sharing. It's the kind of "music to my ears" that spreads because it ministers to us all.
What a beautiful thing your daughter and her school are doing. So often we do forget how lucky we are to have education here at our fingertips...whereas in so much of the world it's a gift.
Love your closing line. Bwana Awabariki - to everyone!
African choirs/music group can do harmony and rhythm like no one else. Their harmonies can reduce me to tears, but yes their rhythms can get me up and dancing. I think it is something that just comes with them, sort of inbuilt. I have tried to teach the rhythms and simple dances that I learned from African children in Africa to European children in England - and they just don't get it. Well done to you daughter's school for what they are doing, and to all the audience for getting out of their seats and joining in and feeling that music..
What wonderful corners of the world we get to peek into here at Vision and Verb and entrancing moments that we get to share together.
And it's wonderful that your daughter is getting to experience such a rich and unusual education.
i haven't stopped your table in a while, but something drew me this morning, and once the post was revealed, i knew why. it was yours, carola, and it was about africa, a place i love with all my heart.
how fortunate for your daughter, her school, and you that you had this magical and meaningful experience. i thought of eliza and her amazing posts from this red earth part of the world.
thank you for reminding me of gratitude early this morning, of the amazing women who write for this group, and of you.
blessings.
Several things ran through my mind as I read your heart-warming post. First of all, how wonderful that your daughter's school undertakes such a thoughtful project...and on an on-going basis. Is your daughter's school public or private? Secondly, ah yes...most all of us have so very much for which to be grateful. Often we take most everything for granted; your post a good reminder to be grateful for our many blessings. And, last but not least, I was reminded of our own KIVA project here at V&V. One of the loans we made was for someone to install a toilet. Yes. A toilet. Talk about the most basic need.
Drums are so stirring. No wonder they have been used for centuries to call people to action or to communicate thoughts, feelings, and emotions. Through your words, I can almost hear them and I can imagine the crowd standing - swaying and clapping - to the magical rhythms.
Carola, the way you described this event in your second paragraph had me right there in the audience with you! What a inspirational reminder of so many things we take for granted, which by the way is why I love traveling so much to third world countries. We are so spoiled here in the United States. Thanks for a beautiful post!
The stories! This reminds me of what drew me to this website in the first place...the stories told in images as well as in the words. You were able to witness the story of those young people in their music and words.
Thank you for sharing it with us here, as it is moving and inspiring.
Oh, what a wonderful story! We do take so many things for granted in this country. It is fabulous that the children in your daughter's school are learning that things are different in other parts of the world, that many of the things we take so much for granted come at a great cost in other places.
And the music! When my sister and I went to see Lion King (the play) we both had tears pouring down our faces two minutes after the music started. I still don't know why, it was such a spontaneous reaction. But you are so right, you just have to get up on your feet!
Carola, I would have loved to be sitting next to you during this special event, the drums get me everytime, I'm sure I wouldn't be able to sit still. I, too, recalled Eliza mentioning Arusha ... what a tight world we've brought together! I appreciate learning about this school there and how your daughters school is helping in such a big way. What a wonderful night for you all ~ love the colorful image, too!
What a wonderful way to raise money for their school and take their story to the world. Music breaks down barriers and promotes the bonds of friendship. I would love to hear the New Life Band perform.
Such a celebration! The arts bridging cultures and understanding, joy and opportunity. Wonderful!
I can feel both the beat of the drums and quietness of the "privileged" audience in your post, Carola, it must have been a great experience for you and your daughter. Drums are very persuasive instruments, aren't they, their rhythm gets under one's skin very quickly. I can see the audience swaying and clapping, feeling the rhythm inside, I'm almost swaying myself now! :) Isn't it wonderful that the people in the audience were connected at those moments by music and atmosphere which exceeded their individualities?
As I read that the choir at your daughter’s high school supports that African school, I had to think of a charity program here, supporting children who come from poor families in India, Uganda, Belarus and other countries. There is a database of children who need support to gain education and individuals as well as institutions can "adopt" such a child, i.e. to pay certain (quite small) amount of money a year for the child to gain the education. I know that some schools are active in this program and sponsor such children via this program and I think it's great for their pupils to see they can't take their education for granted. I like when charity is aimed at particular purpose when the supporter can see fruits of their efforts, it must help to further support.
A beautiful connection for you and your daughter! What rises from your words is the power and beat of freedom........such an unforgettable sound:~))
This is so nice. It takes kids to remind us what is outside of ourselves!
I'm catching up on posts and reading in backwards order so first I read Eliza's post and now yours on Africa - the wonderful music and the threat of violence. It's quite a contrast, yet they do often go together. With the serendipity of the two posts (plus I am being deeply moved by the Nigerian girl in the book "Little Bee" right now), it makes me pause to think what to do with heart tug I feel.
I'm just reading yours now, how wonderful!!! I don't know this band but I'm close to Arusha - I will have to go and find them :)