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Martin Neil

Tanzania Drought 2017

By TanzaniaNo Comments

We are looking at sending money to buy maize before the prices soar – and we need your help – if 1000 people gave £25 each we would be able reach our target and send maize not only to Mnase but all the surrounding villages. We so appreciate your help – Asante sana.

In the UK you can give via https://my.give.net/tanzaniadrought2017 and outside the Uk via Paypal – voicesfromthenations@hotmail.com

The Power of Song

By Music that inspiresNo Comments

A wonderful documentary on the life of Pete Seeger – a troubadour who revitalised folk music in America, gave voice to the Vietnam war, used song to clean up the Hudson river and whose overriding passion was to bring people together to sing.

Take only memories, leave only footprints.

Chief Seattle

Glorious it is when wandering time is come.

A proverb from the Inuit people

Martin’s Musical Mystery Tour 18

By Music that inspiresNo Comments

Martin’s musical mystery tour – The highlands, lochs and glens of Scotland have been a fertile ground for many musicians. Every time I step into this land I am aware of the incredible legacy and the unique sound that comes from this nation. The musical story of any people is always evolving and I am very thankful to Hazel Hewitt for pointing me in the direction for this blog of some inspiring new tunes.

Zomba prison

By Music that inspiresNo Comments

An incredible story about music created by inmates and their guards in Zomba prison, Malawi. Writing music that helps tell their story, bringing hope, inside a place that has been called the “waiting room of hell”.

Life is not about waiting for the storms to pass. It's about learning how to dance in the rain.

Vivian Greene

Mariachi Divinas

By AmericasNo Comments

After a morning of recording in San Diego we went to my favourite Mexican restaurant to find a wonderful group of six girls and one guy playing wonderful mariachi music. The group is called Mariachi Divinas worth checking out if you are in the area.

Coconut Festival – Kaua’i

By DrumsNo Comments

It was great to meet up with Tepairu Manea again to learn more about the art of Tahitian drumming. Also very honoured to join him for the Coconut Festival at Kapa’a – met some more great players. Here are some of the instruments we were using during the event.

Hoop Dancer

By AmericasNo Comments

Whilst on the island of Kaua’i, a friend Kaplan Bunce invited me to the Powwow in Paradise, a cultural event and a traditional Native American powwow for the community . Many tribes and Pacific nations were represented and much dancing and drumming – this exert is the amazing hoop dancing.

An inspirational Czech singer – against all odds!

By EuropeNo Comments

RomanoRomana Kročilová grew up wanting to sing, dance and act but as a young girl she was told she wasn’t slim enough to dance and not able to pitch high notes. She decided to go to the doctor for help and he told her that she had a vocal chord disease and shouldn’t shout, whisper or sing! Her faith and her perseverance kept her childhood dreams alive and she eventually got a place in a music conservatory and she now sings in many bands and has sung in the Opera Carmen. Listen to her performing 2 Czech folk songs. Read More

The small drum has its voice, as does the large drum

Minianka proverb