The value of music is so strong in Cape Town. From the Jazz
in Swingers to the drumming in the streets, it is all from the soul. I always
had interest in Jazz music but actually going to a Jazz Café helped me
appreciate the band more. The sounds had
given me such a joyful feeling in which I had never felt before in music
besides listening to Gospel. There were no words but still the drums, the
keyboard, the bass and the saxophone spoke to me. I was in utter infatuation
how the combination of completely different instruments could produce such
beautiful music. It was soothing and I
could not take my eyes off of the band. One of musicians playing the African
drum had in his right hand a coke bottle which he used while drumming to create
a unique sound as it hit the face of the drum. I was impressed of how creative
the drummer was for using the coke bottle while still forcing his left hand on
the rim of the drum.
One of the main
souvenirs which I wanted to return home with was a Djembe drum. After having
been able to play one at our drumming lessons, I realized how much work went
into playing one. It was not easy but when you got the hang of it you felt
good. That is why I applaud these
drummers who use only their hands and occasionally random items because the
sounds come directly from the power they strike upon the drum. Instead we are not hearing their beats but
rather their stories and motives through their hands. As an artist myself, I
know how much it means to incorporate emotions through music. When we ate at
Moyo I felt the emotions of the South African musicians and singers there. It
was intense and mind blowing of how dedicated the people there were to their
music. Before even sitting our table we were welcomed by four musicians, three
of which played the balafons and one who played the Djembe drum. It was my second time since being in South
Africa hearing the balafons but this time it was different. You could see it in
their eyes of these young African male musicians; it was love. They played non-stop and I could not stop
watching them. When they finally had some downtime I had the pleasure of
meeting one of them and told how talented they were. The musician I met
expressed to me how much it was an honor to just play for people. That really
stuck with me because he was humble and showed me that his gift was more than a
talent it was what he loved doing.
At the dinner table we also were lucky
enough to have some of the workers sing to us. Usually in America, the only
time you ever hear of workers singing to you is if it is someone’s birthday and
often it is not like they are Grammy award winners, they just sing. At Moyo, it
was the complete opposite. Four workers came up to our table after we grabbed
our first plates and sang to us such a powerful song which left in total
disbelief at what I had witnessed. Their harmony was insanely amazing! Dressed
in colorful attire with tribal face paint, these workers clapped their hands
and sing in Xhosa immaculately to us as if we were gods. We were only customers
but given such courteous and generous treatment. I had no idea what they said in
that song but it was so elegant and I was astonished by the clicks in their
tongues as they sing. Xhosa is a beautiful language but even more beautiful
through music.
As an artist and as a Nigerian, I have been inspired by all the
music from Cape Town. Being back in America I do not want to forget the spirit
I felt through the sounds of Africa. I returned home with a hand drum and a
sanza (thumb piano). I plan to incorporate these instruments in some of my
future music projects to relive the same infatuation I felt in Cape Town
through my music in America.
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