KIWU for KALAMA
A local organization in my town is
hoping to raise enough money to build a well in Kalama Kenya. The people are
badly in need of water and must walk two miles each day to the nearest a river
(that is increasingly becoming polluted due to industrial waste) to get it.
After making the trip to the river they carry the 20 liters of water back to the village
It is my hope that the creation of new music about the people of Kalama will keep this project in the
public eye until the money is raised for the new well.
Please check back often to receive more updates and information on this project.
THE WATER
The People of Kalama currently take
water from the Athi River below the Yetta plateau. The Women and Children wake
early each morning and spend half of the day getting clean water. They walk two
miles - not on level ground – to retrieve the water and carry it two miles back
to the village for drinking and cooking.
EDUCATION
IN KALAMA
Cost in USD for-
Government sponsored boarding school - $534
Government sponsored day school - $200
Government sponsored national school -
$934
Catholic private school - $667
College teacher training is a 3-year
program including boarding school - $533
Nurse training is a 3-year program -
$840
A BRIEF
DESCRIPTION OF EACH MOVEMENT
While each movement is not yet complete
– the “essence” of each has taken shape. Here is the purpose behind each
movement and a little information about the cultural influences that generated
the musical ideas of each.
KIWU FOR KALAMA
SUITE
I – KAMBA MEANS DANCING!
This first movement is based on the Kamba Dance in which the
dancers move in unison dressed in garments adorned with many small metallic
shakers. The upper body movements combined with the footsteps create some very
interesting polyrhythms. The other interesting instrument used here is the
police whistle (or apito as it is called in Brazilian music). In this dance the
rhythm of the whistle is used to indicate the next rhythm change of the dance.
II – ATHI RIVER
The Women and children of Kalama walk two miles to the Athi
River to get water each morning. If you watch the video you can see that this
walk is down a very steep hillside. A problem under normal circumstances but
then to walk back up the treacherous landscape with full water containers on
your back is a music different task - and all for water that has been polluted
by industry. The tone is somber – and will eventually convey the burden of the
return trip.
III – WATER
I was looking for music that reflected a life-giving source.
I imagined the taste of clean water and the change in the landscape from the
reddish dust of the drought stricken land – the lush green of thriving
agriculture.
IV – NINY'E MUSAVIVU WA W'O
This movement is heavily influenced by the music of the
IKUTANI CATHOIC CHOIR, Kiongwani Parish, conducted by Father Michael Nzola,
Organist Thaddeus Mezza. At first I was not very taken with this CD but the
more I listened the more I appreciated the joy, the happiness and the
complexity of the rhythm! There are some wonderful 5 meaure phrases and some
2/4 measures inserted here and there. It seems so natural to listen to but adds
so much interest. Here you hear a literal transcription of Niny'e Mussavivu Wa
W'o for a standard Jazz Ensemble. I was very happy with the piece after it was orchestrated.
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