Drums and Songs

June 6, 2011 – Patricia Kelly

Today is the Malawi Independence Day when they celebrate independence from England in 1964. However, what followed was 30 years of a dictatorship by Kamuzu Banda, who proclaimed himself President for Life. There are celebrations in Blantyre and in Lilongwe but not in Zomba. Actually, they’ve become much like us and even the stores are open – when people are off work, there is money to be made.

A teacher at Malemia Primary School in the Domasi area, Innocent, has taught the whole group drumming each Tuesday. He has taught us various rhythms and drumming in the “spaces.” The Father Drum is a patient African; he doesn’t talk a lot and allows others to participate. He leaves a space for others to drum (a four-count). The Mother Drum, he says, is a typical African woman who talks, talks, talks. She allows no spaces for entering with your rhythm. So you fill the Father Drum spaces or find an adjoining drum that is allowing spaces and follow that drum. It’s an interesting allegorical concept. I’m not good at all with drumming, but I appreciate the life lessons.

Innocent has also written two songs for us. The first he wrote last year for us to sing at our Celebration Dinner for the teachers. It is a farewell song. “We are thankful that things have been good. We are leaving, we are leaving, until we meet again.”

Tikuthokoza, takhala bwino; Tapita, tapita; tidzaonana.

The other one says that “Malawi is a beautiful country, just like America; things are going well in Malawi and in America.”

Malawi, Malawi
Oziko Lokongola
Lifanana nd kwathu ku America

Malawi moto; Malawi moto
Amerika moto; America moto
Lifanana ndi kwathu ku Amerika

We plan on having some drums with the singing also. It should be fun.