Building Resilience With Music & Art

I went back to the studio after clearing part of rental arrears to the business premise still not sure of how I’d get the balance. Has

anyone noticed that unlike when we were growing up, time flies like no one’s business during this COVID-19 pandemic? I could be alone in this but back then,during the planting season in the village, food was scarce and days seemed to just take their time. Maybe it’s because I have a bunch of monthly bills, debts and payments to make. Let’s face it, lock-downs have had a drastic economic effects to small businesses especially here in Africa and other third world countries. As an entrepreneur who has gigantic dreams of touching the whole globe some time to come, I must confess that even the very dreams have been put to test.

As I sat, gazing at the piano, holding the guitar in my hand and the monitor speakers looking like they just wanted me to feed them with

what I was feeling, I couldn’t help but allow the massive flow of stories of anguish that crisscrossed my mind from social media, boda-boda guys, fruit vendors, once smiling chaps now rendered jobless. We had just released Better Days and were happy that it was encouraging people, but seemingly, the situations were getting tougher and we still need a voice of resilience.

From the sad episode of a mother boiling stones in Mombasa to a young man throwing himself from a footbridge in Nakuru-where I live yet to one where a friend of mine talked of being thrown out of the house due to rental arrears, my heart was heavy. Writing the verses of this song seemed like I was reading on a certain screen. Normally, my experience has always been,start with the chorus, then the other sections build up, or better still, have an Idea of how it would sound as I write the verse. Two weeks in the month of May, I had everything except the chorus.

Then one day, I just remembered some historical tales. How chanting is part of the African way of showing or calling for solidarity and in most cases our great grandparents chanted to wade off evil. That’s how the idea of Together In This came about. They would own the calamity as a community and fight together, bury the fallen as a family, and would have their thespians lead them in songs of victory, sometimes even before the battle

ends. Having spoken so much and created a somber mood in the verse, it would be too much for the chorus to carry many concepts. It’s when the chorus proved to fit that the title for the song came up.

After the audio production, I sent to one of my analysts who said they loved the many voices in the chorus. And I thought, what if many faces come in to visualize the chorus? With Covid-19 restrictions, the best way would be to have everyone do it from whichever location then have them all appear on the screen at the same time. We are grateful to Leah Wangari for helping us translate the chorus into Sign Language. Should you require such services kindly reach out to info@dowemusicarts.com and we'll be sure to get her to assist you. Allow me, on behalf of Dowe Music and Arts

to appreciate this team below:

BURUNDI

1.
Abiya S. Ibrahim

ETHIOPIA

2.
Semira Ahmed

GHANA

3.
Sumaila Ibrahim

INDIA

4.
Seema Kataria

She is a creative blogger who inspires thousands with her poetry filled with real life enthusiasm. Check out her work on Seema Kataria Blog

KENYA

5.
Angel Michelle

Our youngest participant was a Form II Student at Turkana Girls National School. We can't be thankful enough to the Parent who allowed her to take part. Angel is a talented artist that has interacted with us for mentorship on singing. We strongly believe she has potential in music life.

6.

Beatrice Awuor_YALI

7.

Billjobs Winston

8.

Catherine Igoki_YALI

9.

Cynthia Nakhumicha

10.

Esther Ochola

11.

Jackline Kawira_YALI

12.

Judith Nyangari

13.

Julia Kamau_YALI

14.

Kereni Waeni

15.

Lenah Mwangi

16.

Lochara Benard

17.

Mercy Nyakio

18.

Milcah Mwihaki

19.

Phineas mugambi

20.

Phylis G. Wanja 

is a 25 year old pencil Artist who uses Art as Therapy as a healing tool ,to help victims of ill- mental health as well as use Art ( drawings and cartoons) to educate the society on issues concerning Mental Hygiene , Mental Health and ill- mental health. She is the founder of Afyakili Organization, that brings together the youth for positive change on matters concerning Mental Health. She has partnered with different Organizations to propel change, to reach out to more individuals in need. Currently, she has been running a campaign #ToaMaskCampaign, that is on a mission of educating people on the importance of Speaking Up and not hiding their true emotions and feelings with happy faces and perfect lives,yet they are suffering deep within, with an aim of reducing suicide rates among the children, youth and the elderly.  She is also an entrepreneur who is passionate about finding solutions for the youth,  by educating them about the Business Model Canvas ,Entrepreneurship and how to spot opportunities, with an aim of eradicating youth unemployment, which is a major factor that leads the youth being victims of ill-mental health. Reach Phyilis at Wanja wa Wangeci

21.
Precious Maxine

A gifted singer-songwriter and multi-instrumentalist, Precious is a sought after musician in Nakuru County, and the country at large. She plays the Bass Guitar, piano among other instruments and you may see her works and subscribe to her channel on YouTube at Precious Maxine

22.
Simon Ohiambo_YALI

23.
Stella Cheoi_ELF

24.
Waithera itonga

25.
Zipporah Wanjiru

NIGERIA

26.
Adewale Adeyemi

 Adewale Adeyemi is a musician and music consultant with over a decade experience in music business. He has organized various music concerts and music business conferences, inspiring over 500 music professionals in Nigeria.

Find out more from Adewale here www.porchmusicbox.com

PAKISTAN

27.
G.J Naseer

28.
Abdul Hameed Buzdar

REPUBLIC OF CONGO

29.
Gerria Sundi_YALI

RWANDA

30.
Tuyishimire Theophile

SUDAN

31.
Flowers John Tito

32.
Mushtaha Abdalla

TANZANIA

33.
Malega Williams Kalembire_YALI

UGANDA

34.
Lynn Nakabugo

UNITED KINGDOM

35.
GEORGE KAMAU

36.
STEPH GRANTHAM

ZIMBABWE

37.
Tinashe Maswaure

Is a final year student at Bindura University of Science Education working towards attaining a Bachelors honors Degree in Accounting. He currently holds Finance Manager Position at WEDB Finance Service with two (2) years’ experience in the field of Finance. He has been involved in various women empowering projects in Zimbabwe through Woman Excel Organisation. Recently, he has successfully assisted in the registration of Empowered Woman Excel SACCo Zimbabwe.

We hope that you enjoyed reading as well as watching the video. Whatever you may be going through, remember, you are never alone!