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.
