Although our University of Johannesburg International project is in hiatus at the end of a busy week of performances, master classes and interviews; we will continue through publication and documentary development as we look forward to the future.  Meanwhile, Dennis and I headed over to Windhoek, Namibia for a short weekend of fellowship and a meeting with Ms. Kapena Vetira.  Kapenangutjiua Vetira is the founder and director of Children of Namibia (ChiNamibia) Arts Education for Development, a non-profit organization founded in 2013, which educates, develops, and empowers children and young people through arts and culture. 

Kapena is a Mandela Washington Fellow who completed her fellowship at Appalachian State University this past summer. She is writing a grant proposal for continuation of the ChiNamibia organization, headquartered in Windhoek.

Kapena and I headed out to a game ranch to clear our heads and ride through the bush looking for rhinos and giraffes.  Some people close their best deals on the golf course, but I like to get the job done over a nice afternoon game drive.  

  

MMMM....pap and stew - eat it with your hands and share among your table mates!
The restaurant in Soweto was one of many stops along the way, as we taught master classes for the students at the Funda Community College.  The students are studying the performing arts with the purpose of obtaining skills that enable paying jobs in the community.

One afternoon, we performed in the University of Johannesburg library.  The percussionist found students and like a pied piper, called them to the performance by playing music as they walked up the stairs with students following.  Dennis video recorded by walking backwards up the stairs (to the 6th floor!!!) with his GoPro camera on a selfie stick.  I can't wait to see THAT video. 

After the performance, we hurried over to UJFM, the university radio station, where we were interviewed.  

Left to right: Dr. Sonkanise Nkosi (South Africa), Dr. Peter Okeno (Ghana), and Dr. Rama Mani (India/France). 

Sitting with me here is Mr. Bill Cisco (USA and South Africa), along with the news reporter studying the internet news feeds for the hourly report.  Bill is a member of the well-known band THE DRIFTERS, and his R&B music complemented the African tradition drums, my spirituals and Rama's poetry and testimony from genocide survivors around the world.  

 NGO directors from around Johannesburg hosted a dinner with very active discussion about music in the protests and emancipation/liberation activities around the globe.  This diverse group of guests included academics and artists from Muslim, Hindu, and Christian backgrounds as well as activists from Syria, Turkey, African and European nations.  Much discussion about the concerns for immigrants and refugees in the U.S. surprised me, since my early visits to South Africa involved more concern about African social justice. 

I have to admit, I L-O-V-E radio performances and interviews! You never know who you are reaching, and the mystery listeners are as precious as the audience members who are sitting in the performance spaces with us.  

Today's Set List!

Music as Emancipation and Protest Performance Program

Introduction: African Drum Improvisation

 Song: By the Rivers of Africa

Taste of­ Freedom (Poem from The Gift of Peace)

Song: A Change is Gonna Come  - Bill

Song: Keep Your Lamps Trimmed and Burning - Suzi

The Manual of Instruction for Genocide  (Poem from The Gift of Peace)

Song: Maraikana isiZulu- Sonkanise – Drummers, Bill, Suzi

Edouard (Testimony from Rwanda)

Song: Mapambano         kiSwahili from Kenya – Peter, Drummers and Suzi

Vijana Musialale means that youth should not give up, withdraw or back down because the struggle for a better community and life is still on.  They should resist oppression and injustice and fight on.  The song has been used many times by many social groups struggling for their rights.  The word “vijana” is interchanged by “Wazee” (elderly), “Kinamama” (Mothers), “Wasichana”(girls), “Wavulana” (boys), “Wananchi” (citizens), and so on.

Song: Mwafanazala/Rero Zaramo from Kenya and Tanzania -  Peter, Sonkanise, Suzi

English translation:“You cannot dance if you did not eat”…a song about workers not paid; and taxed but not provided service.

Bahatizz Sisters  (Testimony from DRCongo)

Song: What’s Going On – Bill, Suzi, Sonkanise

Song: Gjia  Ndeble

composed by guitarist Nothembi Mkhwebane

Sonkanise, Peter, Suzi, Bill

English translation: “The black government, people who are ruling and traditional leaders.  Our land will come back, and cows, and farms.” The song reminds us that artists and participation in political conversations are crucial. 

Song: Wake Up Everybody – Bill, backing vocals all

How the Change Came (Poem from The Gift of Peace)

Song: Solidarity Forever  - Suzi, all

We, having struggled with the fear and realities of violent death, unjust circumstances and painful separation, commit to each other.  Solidarity to our union of community, whose members sing, dance, drum and share our stories as we strengthen and change our world. 

Teamwork: Form, Norm, Storm, Perform

The team is now together for our multiple projects.  The first event is described here, followed by a week of masterclasses, performances, and panel discussions.   From the time of this writing it is about 48 hours from now.  Teamwork is sometimes described as forming, norming, storming and finally: performing.  I'm hoping that now we have formed, we will quickly norm, avoid much storm and get on with the performing in time for our first public event.  Dennis Mills is not listed, as he is a "behind-the scenes" team member.  He is photographing and video-recording all of it!

A Warm Welcome in KwaZulu Natal

Mr. Bhekani Buthelezi and Suzi working on a Ph.D. proposal for the University of Zululand

The long journey from home in Boone, NC, USA to the beautiful port city of Durban, South Africa took about 30 hours , which included three airplane rides and a good deal of ground transport.  My first reward was an early morning meeting with Bhekani Buthelezi, a faculty member at the University of Zululand who came to Durban from UniZulu to attend the South African Society for Research in Music Congress with Dennis and myself.  The conference opened with a lecture given by Dr. Louise Meintjes on the topic of Ngoma performance practice, a type of Zulu warrior dancing, in which the dancers both compete and inspire each other through their singing and drumming.    The entertainment that followed included an amazing array of South African dance, drum and song styles...an aesthetic feast.

Re-enactment of Ngoma Music and Dance during competition at the Old Mutual National Choir Festival.  Photo by Dennis Mills.