Five years ago we set out to make a documentary about music education in Haiti. We never imagined the places it would go or the impact it would have on communities across the U.S. and for the Haitian people. We were inspired by the musicians and teachers we met while volunteering in music schools around Haiti and the ways in which Haitians were using music education as a vehicle for social change. In December 2009 we started interviewing Haitians at the Holy Trinity Music School during our Lawrence University winter break. We asked questions like, “What does music mean to you?” and “How does music education impact your community?” The answers we received were poignant, articulate, and proved that something very special was happening with music in this country. When we learned of the massive earthquake that struck Haiti on Jan. 12, 2010, our first concerns were of course for our Haitian friends, students, and fellow teachers. Despite the difficult nature, we knew that the film could play an important role in helping non-Haitians better understand what Haitian people were going through. As we are seeing today, mainstream media focuses on the sensational in order to help maintain the systems in place that oppress minorities. Music is one way to help us see beyond these systems and to imagine a better world. Kenbe La ~ Hold On has been screened at over 50 venues around the U.S. and Haiti. Some of the most well-attended and productive screenings have happened in unexpected places, including churches, classrooms, and living rooms. From a screening on the side of a house in a backyard in Seattle, to a screening for 200 Haitians at a music camp in Leogane during a low-grade hurricane, to our most recent screening at the Governor’s School for the Arts in South Carolina, people have used this film to spark conversations on a variety of important topics. Though the film’s main concern is music education, it also explores themes of community, leadership, social justice, ethical representation and disaster politics. These themes are driven primarily by Haitian voices. Our experience at the Governor’s School was a renewed call to action, to continue to screen the film as widely as possible. We would like to announce that Kenbe La ~ Hold on is now available for free online and we invite you to continue supporting theses Haitian’s dedication to music education by viewing and sharing this film. We also ask that you consider making a donation to BLUME-Haiti to support the ongoing efforts to support Haitians who are interested in music as a tool for social change. Fostering creativity supports social change and helps create leaders who can imagine a world for everyone.
Posted on: Wed, 26 Nov 2014 21:04:44 +0000
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