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I have been Africanized this past two weeks through African songs.
I participated in a musical performance with the very nice and lovable friends
from Africa, who called me to take part in a kind of cultural exchange event.
The purpose of the event was for people in the school community, KU to come to
learn more about African countries. That day was dedicated for only three
countries: Sudan, Nigeria and Kenya. When I attended the event, I did not feel
like the event was dedicated for only these three countries. I did not see much
difference between these three with the others, until I saw each country’s
boundary drawn on the map showed on the large projector screen. That attitude
comes up because Africa has such a unity not only because all nations sit on one
main land (hope I am not wrong), but also having similar English accent
(according to my ears), and one other note is their brotherhood is strong even
they just know each other overseas. I found this similar to what I have back in
my country. This makes hardly distinguishable in terms of nationality.
I took part in that performance because, first, I like music
(particularly folk music or traditional music that has been incorporated into
pop genre), and second they are my friends of course. But really, beyond that,
Africa is rich of culture. I don’t know much about the other art, but musical
art from Africa has a character. Songs are unique and distinguishable from any
other types that we hear across the world. Not to mention its influence on the
current world music taste like Hip Hop and Rap music. Dance moves even make
them more typical and unique. I remember Waka Waka.
I have been familiar to African songs beats back in my country.
The way how African-typical music is heard in my country is not because of
internet, or youtube. It is because we have some historical connection from two
to three Portugues colonials in African that brought their songs in. Even though
most songs are in Portugues language, their African thing is always there, like
melody characters, and beats. So, that makes me feel like I can get the
soul when I play an instrument.
I had no idea about the songs we played. They are in Swahili. One
of the widely spoken languages in African continent. I learned that I need to,
at least, learn Swahili basics if I ever plan to visit this one of the two
continents that I have not touched my feet on. To practice Swahili here are few
words to memorize right here and right now. Asante=thank you, Mimi=I, Hujambo=hello,
Milele=forever, Habari=How are you. I learned these words from the songs that we
played and I heard them from people talking. This has added my-only:
Akunamatata.
**Hope this gives you an inspiration
