I was very fortunate to be invited to a First Nations pow wow many years ago – the drumming and singing are so powerful.
Here is an amazing video from Sweden showing music bringing life to commuters.
It is often said that the drummer is often the most passionate musician when he plays … check out this player.
I love military drum players and this performance is sensational … bringing skill and fun together. This drum corp are from Switzerland.
On a hillside, high above a ravine lived a small boy and his family. There home was a very ordinary wood shack surrounded on three sides by trees. Life seemed very boring to this young boy and he dreamed of excitement and adventure. Often he would sit on their wooden porch late in the evening and watch the valley below, change colours as the sun went down. On the other side of the valley was another building and on certain evenings there would be an amazing sight, a miracle would happen, the house would explode with amazing golden windows. He would sit and dream about who lived there, how special they must be to live in such an amazing place. Read More
There are many who believe that music can influence society. One such lady is Malian born Oumou Sangare sometimes referred to as “The Songbird of Wassoulou.” Her songs have spoken into woman’s rights, child marriage and polygamy. The track “Yala” is a song that hit the dance floors of Mali and criticises young people who roam late at night in search of pleasure – forgetting their traditional values.
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Just heard about a new film/documentary about the Killing Fields in Cambodia. Looks like a very interesting project called “Enemies of the people” … check out there web site here.
Sitting on the slatted wooden flooring covered with a beautiful woven mat … we looked out from the tall stilted house we had come to visit towards the nearby river. We had stepped into another world – a community who’s lifeblood is entangled with that of the Mekong and it’s tributaries, in all it’s wonder and treachery.
For 3 months of the year during monsoon season the river rises many feet and our hosts home becomes an island on stilts. The dug out canoe becomes the vehicle of choice for travel during this season and food comes to your doorstep – fish that is! When the waters recede the fields are perfect for growing rice.
