Kumbaya I wrote this back in 2011. Kumbaya is Gulla (a creole language) translated roughly to Lord stand by me. A beautiful and powerful sentiment that modern pop culture has disintegrated and abused. Today when people speak the word it is often in context of what are we gonna do? Sit around and sing kumbaya? This is said sarcastically and always in opposition to peaceful solutions and ideals. I wanted to take the word back. I wanted to give it back its full power and glory. And then I shortly after became aware of a growing and disturbing trend of pop stars taking elements of other cultures and misappropriating them for their own uses. One example would be Katy Perrys Dark Horse which should disturb the educated viewer on multiple levels. Vogue magazines Epic Cornrows edition with the young blond model is another prime example of this cultural misappropriation. That is not admiration or respect, its stealing and its dismissive and its wrong. It is the same kind of wrong as destroying the concept behind Kumbaya. This is not that. Its true this song was written thinking Africa top to bottom (the original song traveled from the New World to Angola at one time and was rediscovered there.) Its also true that this song was never meant to be sung by one little Native half-breed. Rightfully this song should be sung with choirs of children and men and a powerful female soloist. Alas, I have but me. Which is also why I do not keep control of my own music. I hear drums and scores of voices crying out in hope and freedom and victory. This song was written to be sung well beyond a range of my single little voice. And it was written for all of us.
Posted on: Mon, 29 Sep 2014 21:06:30 +0000
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