Namibian adventure enhances chorister’s Canadian pride
October 12, 2005 - [In May, 2005, Alexis Hillyard, a fourth-year education student at the University of Alberta, went to Swakopmund, Namibia on a cultural music exchange between Canada's Kokopelli Choir and Namibia's Mascato Youth Choir. These are her reflections.]
Namibia... the nation of a thousand voices. They rang through the streets and flowed out of the churches, traveling and resonating deep within my soul. My Canadian lullabies have been transformed into African traditionals - every night before I visit sleep, I hear Mascato's rich and haunting harmonies and am reminded of their unwavering passion for creating music. I am transported to times of apartheid, to times of the freedom songs and to times of praise. I will forever be grateful for this opportunity... this Namibia.
The people of Swakopmund and Walvis Bay went out of their way to accommodate this Canadian chorister - they were helpful, friendly and so genuine. Teachers opened their doors and allowed me to participate in their classrooms, and it was there that I found comfort in the fact that Canadian and Namibian learners share similar needs and characteristics. This might have seemed obvious, but to be able to teach and communicate with students on the other side of the world was quite remarkable for me.
While traveling abroad, one develops a renewed sense of pride for one's country. On this particular trip, however, my pride began to glow because not only was I Canadian, I was a walking representation of Canada itself. I was reminded of what it means to be Canadian. This in turn ignited my enthusiasm for the Mascato Youth Choir's visit to our beautiful nation My stories of snow angels, icicles and northern lights became fairytale-like wonders as I described them to different audiences. The glorious thing is, though they live in the sand and I live in the snow, a place with opposite climate, seasons and geography felt like home to me so quickly. I was a proud Canadian because Namibia reminded me of Canada with its people and spirit - Namibia was my Canada of the southern hemisphere.
I came to Namibia to learn about African music, culture and way of life, and I received as much as I possibly could with humble, open arms. But before I could live the life I would come to know, I first had to get a feel for my surroundings and work my way in slowly. After all, I was a foreigner in a foreign place, and most things were new and overwhelming. There were certain things that I had to learn.
For example, since independence, Namibia has been a nation of healing and growth, trying to find its feet whilst shedding the tragic effects of apartheid. As a Canadian, I am naive to the concept of segregation, so this exchange was a crash course in racism and the effects thereof. "Whites Only" bars still stand with rules that couldn't be written down, yet the discouraged customers knew them all too well. White elders still stare disapprovingly at pairs containing a white person and a person of another race. People assume that if you are the only white girl in a group of blacks, that maybe you are not okay. I believe that to accept the harsh realities of apartheid and its lasting effects, my heart had to break and mend itself again. I had to accept it, as difficult as it was, and as soon as I did I was able to see Namibian life in a whole new light and on a much deeper level. I began focusing on the aspects of Africa that are bringing all people together. I sang with a different voice colour; I listened with different ears and saw with greener, clearer eyes.
Yes, their history is different than mine... it's a history that reiterates their resilience.
The most precious and wonderful thing about my Namibian experience was singing with a truly amazing, one of a kind Namibian choir - the Mascato Youth Choir. They sing under the direction of Ena Venter, a woman who lives to create new and challenging experiences for her singers. Mrs. Venter and Scott Leithead, the director of the Kokopelli Choir and the Oran Alumni Choir, both strive to give their singers the world, sacrificing time and energy - all in the name of music.
The brilliance of African culture is that music is the heart of it. Traditions that tell of unspeakable histories - and beautiful histories - are passed from one person to another verbally, from mouth to ear. Almost nothing is written down. This fact only begins to explain the outstanding musical ears Mascato possesses. Mascato has a great gift - sometimes they only need to hear a song once and they can sing it back to you completely - yes, all four voice parts.
The best rehearsal days were those I entered to find a pre-practice jam session with drums and voices. I always sat quietly and listened, trying desperately not to gawk in amazement. Their creative abilities surpass any that I have ever known. And the best of all, Mrs. Venter has instilled all of the wonderful values that are connected with non-competitive singing and spreading joy through music. Mascato and Mrs. Venter were the perfect home - so much like Kokopelli and Oran - I was their sister from another mother... they were my sanctuary, my life and my joy. Even though my time with Mascato is klaar (finished), I consider this to be a beautiful beginning as opposed to an ending, and I am excited to share their true spirit.
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