Category Archives: Africa

-carter

The Uganda Baltimore Alliance (TUBA) Band came to the Malayaka House Orphanage today.

Harry ‘Muzungu’

The language of music once again breached two cultures.

My family and I went today to the Ugandan side of The Uganda Baltimore Alliance (TUBA) after contacting Amy Klosterman in Baltimore. The idea was for me to teach some of the classically trained musicians…the blues. To say I had an attentive audience would be an understatement! Each of my words were hastily eaten up, and every time I spoke they turned around to face me. Once one of the piano players kept playing while I was speaking and was soon reprimanded…by his peers! I can’t remember a time when I was with this extreme level of devotion to me.

http://youtu.be/XSSd_3ygRFw

I worked with them on the regular blues in C and on soloing with the blues scale. They were quick learners and soon we had written a song. We never got to hear it all the way through as the used Middle Eastern (and in Arabic) electric piano’s cords temporarily broke. Needless to say they were excited and ready to practice for when I come back.

Another interesting part of the day was when we heard an acapella group sing. We were in the middle of a farm next to a dirt road leading to the center of town. You could see the animals walking around nearby. You could feel the grass and dirt below you as you sat down. You could hear… the most outstanding acapella music you’ve only heard but on the radio or TV. They hit the audience with a slap in the face. Even the Peabody students (who had come over to help teach the kids) were suprised.

Afterwards my family and our taxi driver embarked on the journey back home on the bumpy but faster backroads in the countryside. The bottom of the car and I grimaced over every bottom-outing bump. We had to get out of the car and walk once so the car could force itself over one particularly large bump in the road. It was all in all a good day and I can’t wait to come back as is planned to finish the song.

—Greer