The Songs of My Ancestors

British educator Sir Ken Robinson speaking on creativity and diversity said, “ People often associate creativity with the individual. But is there a social dimension to creativity that's particularly relevant in the 21st century? Absolutely. Most original thinking comes through collaboration and through the stimulation of other people's ideas….. In practical terms, most creative processes benefit enormously from collaboration… This is one of the great skills we have to promote and teach—collaborating and benefiting from diversity rather than promoting homogeneity."

Here are some stories of creative collaboration that have come my way.

Mermans Mosengo and Jason Tamba

Musicians, Mermans Mosengo and Jason Tamba both left the Democratic Republic of the Congo fifteen years ago. Mosengo came to South Africa where he worked as a drummer and bassist. Tamba, a self-taught guitarist also travelled to South Africa where the two musicians met and formed the band Afro Fiesta.  Their vision is to use music to educate and inspire audiences to find peaceful solutions for Congo and for all people. 

They take inspiration from different kinds of music to find their own sound.  Their most recent CD, Music is My Ammunition blends roots reggae, makossa and Congolese rumba.  You can hear the title track which was recorded with artists from various countries on youtube. The opening lines of the song are 

“The songs of my ancestors ricochet through the wind, and the smoke is rising from the words I and I sing. Music is my ammunition.  Fire down Babylon.”  The artists feel that coming from a war torn country, they are using their music instead of bullets to create change.

Music is My Ammunition was produced by Playing for Change  which is a “movement created to inspire, connect and bring peace to the world through music."  Mosengo and Tamba used a crowd funding appeal to raise the money to promote this CD and reached their goals.  This allowed people from all around the world to participate in bringing the music of peace to more people from all around the world.

Jayme Stone is a Canadian “banjoist, composer and instigator.”  He is always coming up with innovative and collaborative new music projects.  Last year he created the Lomax Project.  Stone focused on songs collected by folklorist and field recording pioneer Alan Lomax which he researched in the US Library of Congress.  

Jayme Stone researching at the Library of Congress

Instead of trying to get a recording company to back the project, he used Kickstarter to successfully crowdfund the necessary money.  Then he brought together roots musicians to “revive, recycle and reimagine” the traditional songs.  The finished CD includes Bahamian sea chanties, African-American a cappella singing from the Georgia Sea Islands, ancient Appalachian ballads, fiddle tunes and work songs.  The Lomax Project CD was nominated for a 2016 Juno award.

Jayme Stone with banjo and friends

I was one of the many people who participated in the crowd funding because I think Jayme Stone is an extremely creative musician and I was happy to help him in this collaborative endeavour.  I got the CD in the mail when it was finished and feel proud to have been a part of it. I also took part in the crowdfunding for the AfroFiesta CD and will soon receive that as well.  I like supporting creative people who are adding so much to the world and being a part of the collaboration.

I am also a Tragically Hip fan and was saddened as were so many to hear that lead singer Gord Downey has terminal brain cancer.  In typical Downey fashion, he will do one more tour with The Hip's new CD Man Poem Machine.  Fans were discouraged to find that scalpers had scooped up most of the tickets for the tour.  The Hip responded with more concert dates.  

I saw some on-line petitions asking that the final concert be broadcast on the CBC.  It turns out that the CBC had already been trying to figure out how to do just that.  The Kingston show on Aug. 20, 2016 will begin at 8:30 pm ET and will be broadcast and streamed commercial free on CBC TV, Radio One and Radio Two, cbcmusic.ca and CBC’s YouTube channel.

Heather  Conway of the CBC said, “The Tragically Hip’s enigmatic sound, their poignant and witty lyrics and the unique, special relationship they have with their fans have helped define and influence our identity as Canadians.”

Gord Downey(centre) and the Tragically Hip

Musician Sarah Harmer, in a Toronto Star interview, said, “Gord’s been writing our stories for years, sparking up our imagination about ourselves and our country.  I aspire to that level of generosity and vibrance.”

Thanks to these collaborative efforts, all Canadians who want to hear The Tragically Hip's last concert will be able to witness a courageous and generous man who will be giving his all. And we will all be the richer for it.