Music makes us tap our feet, move, sometimes cry, sometimes smile. But why do the people behind the guitars, behind the pipes, give us this music to react to? The question posed to Afrikadey! artists at the “Music: Power and Purpose” symposium was “Why do you write and perform your songs?” The crowd on the main floor of the Calgary Public Library, Central Branch, was treated with an intimate, behind-the-scenes look at the motivations of a panel of Afrikadey! artists: Nomfusi, H’Sao, Toumany Kouyate, K’naan (via video), and Remesha Drums.
Nomfusi answered the symposium’s question through poetry, something she wrote the night before in a fit of sleeplessness. She noted that “there is a spoken word within us,” and that she writes and performs because “every time there is poverty [she] appear[s]” and “every times there is crime [she] appear[s].” Nomfusi combats this stereotypical vision of herself through music and, like others, states “we have something to say and we need ears to listen.” Nomfusi then collaborated with jazz musician and moderator John Reid who accompanied on saxophone, a duet they rehearsed only fifteen minutes earlier.
Service, one member of Chadian family group H’Sao, said that through music “I found a way to answer some question.” This question, for H’Sao, lies in the method of uniting Chad, a country with 100 different ethnic groups and a country plagued by war and political instability. Thus for H’Sao “music is about love, music is about justice, music is about healing.” Service delighted the Calgary Public Library audience with an a cappella performance, his co-member Israel providing back up vocals as he was resting his voice for Afrikadey!’s Saturday festivities.
Toumany Kouyate’s motivation stems from the need to make a living and also from his ancestry, a musical family of griots that have played for royal families, at weddings, and have even been invited to settle family disputes. Kouyate explains that “griot means gree hoh — speak up.” Kouyate prefers to speak up through his music, via his kora and vocals, and thus spoke quietly and briefly, but played valiantly, his melodies expressing something beyond words.
Remesha Drums chose to play first, and speak later. The Central Branch’s walls reverberated for minutes while they beat their Burundian drums, its structure threatening to collapse with the thunder contained inside. Noting their extreme athleticism, after Remesha’s performance moderator John Reid joked, “I know what motivates you — you don’t want to pay for a gym membership!” Narcisse Ngenda, leader of the group, clarified that the real reason Remesha Drums performs is to keep a cultural continuity, to keep Burundian culture alive and present. Their performances serve as a metaphor: the “drummer will never give up,” just as Remesha Drums will never give up their Burundi culture.
Toumany Kouyate, a man of few but poignant words, summed up the evening by dubbing his fellow musicians ambassadors of their countries. A lively Q&A section and musical collaboration danced to by many an audience member concluded the night and the audience left the Calgary Public Library bringing with them lungfulls of air tinged with hope.
Are you a musician? Why do you write and perform your music? What do you think of these Afrikadey! artists’ motivations? Fill out the “Leave a Reply” section below to comment!
