N'Kosi Sikeleli

27.06.2012 19:51

This week we spent two days learning from students at Steve Biko, the school for Afro-Brazilian high school students. This time, instead of helping with English we got to learn from them in Portuguese. First, we learned about African foods brought over during the slave trade, including okra and the black-eyed-pea used to make acarajé. Since we’ve been learning a lot about African religions and syncretism found in candomblé, the lecture was also tied to the spiritual connections of the foods as offerings to orixás. Then the next session was a hands-on music lesson. As a group, we sang Bob Marley’s “Redemption Song” complete with a soloist (Omaris), chorus (the rest of us!), and keyboardist. Then, we learned a song of particular significance to the Steve Biko group: N'Kosi Sikeleli, the national anthem of South Africa. It’s a very moving song! http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=MFW7845XO3g&feature=related