Bukoba, Tanzania: Imuka Choir & Recording Studio

Showing posts with label Imuka Choir & Recording Studio. Show all posts

Monday, October 12, 2015

That's A Wrap! | Bittersweet Ending

Well hello! I failed to blog since arriving back in the USA, but I AM back in the USA and have settled in Minnesota! I've been enjoying a little bit of summer since mid-August, and I’m preparing for my first full winter in almost 10 years.

I want to thank you all, so much, for taking the time to check in on my COSAD Tanzania blogs over the last two years. It has been a joy sharing this journey with you. I’m glad you met my Tanzanian family, familiarized yourselves with the work we were doing in Bukoba, and for some of you, I am thrilled you were lucky enough to make the journey to Bukoba to be with us in person. We made great connections along the way.

I already miss my blogging days of writing and sorting through hundreds of pictures to find those special "story pictures" for y'all to flip through. :)

It only seems fair to go over a very brief run-down of COSAD’s progress during my stay…

In late 2014, I believe I was the busiest I had been in my entire life (and that is saying something!). Through August and September, Smart mobilized an army of workers to set up the final elements of COSAD’s social enterprise businesses, and then pulled together an elaborate celebration for the Grand Openings of those businesses: the COSAD Clinic, Imuka Studio, Business Lounge, and the Women’s Cooperative Goat Farm. It was a grand celebration and a grand start to COSAD’s new mission of self-sustainability.

After the Grand Openings, a significant portion of my time in Bukoba was dedicated to creating systems for our businesses and overseeing daily operations. Over the last several months, the COSAD Clinic and Imuka Studio made leaps and bounds- bringing valuable medical resources and personnel to our community, generating revenue, and showcasing the central role music and dance play in the Tanzanian culture. Dr. Jessica Baitani fearlessly lead the clinic as Medical Director and quickly became a beloved doctor, along with our entire staff, with many residents in Bukoba. The Business Lounge hit a few road blocks, starting with a tragic flood in one of our offices that claimed several of our tablets and laptops. Thereafter, the internet proved to be a hurdle we could not overcome, so the decision to wait -temporarily- for better internet access and equipment was made.

The Women’s Cooperative Goat Farm found success in providing space for the speedy expansion of the OWOG Program. In 2015, the OWOG Program partnered with Rotary to bring 200 goats to 200 women in two of COSAD's partner villages. Shortly before the Rotary expansion, the OWOG Program gave 25 goats to 25 women through partnerships with Edina Covenant Church, GCN & FAIR High School, and the Jennie-O R&D Department. Before any goats were given, we spent several weeks to months meeting the women and gathering information about themselves and their households with a team of COSAD staff and community volunteers. I am forever indebted to the women I met in our partner villages; they were the most beautiful and strong people I have ever had the pleasure of meeting, and they enriched my life in countless ways.

Kiteyagwa School launched and completed two seasons of the Girls' Soccer Program, keeping the girls engaged in school and teaching them about confidence, teamwork, healthy sacrifices, meeting goals, and a place for them to have a lot of good fun.

As an organization, it is COSAD’s nature to connect and create partnerships. In keeping with COSAD’s character, we enjoyed hosting several medical volunteers during my stay (local and international), and a group of about 15 students and teachers from FAIR High School through an organization called GCN. (They were an amazing group!)

There are many smaller stories, unique challenges, quiet successes, and displays of grand teamwork that I would love to tell you about- but I’ll let the blogs already published speak for themselves… So if you haven’t read any of them, go choose one to read!

As for adjusting to life back in America, I have been caught in a pleasant but bittersweet whirlwind of change and transition. I miss my Tanzania family dearly, but am truly lucky to have an American family and job to come home to. I'm beginning to pick “family photos” that will be displayed on my new desk at work. I just don't know how to choose which ones…!

Again, thank you for your prayer, thoughts, support, and involvement during my time in Tanzania. I hope you enjoyed the narrative and felt a part of the COSAD experience! Asante sana! (Don't forget to enjoy a little bit of my Swahili farewell speech; both speeches and speaking Swahili are not my strong point, so don't judge too harshly!)

Last Days...

Saying 'see you later' to Kiteyagwa School.

The "See You Later" Dinner

THE Swahili Speech!

Both things which are not my strong point ;)

Two of my Tanzanian sisters (who lived daily life with me!).

THE LAST MORNING and my departure to Entebbe :(

The man responsible for this awesome year! Thank you, Smart, for making me a part of COSAD!

Held responsible for my safe arrival in Entebbe, Mpesha and Answali were the last familiar faces I saw before boarding my plane.

The last leg of my travels back to the US, 100 miles with my lovely mama.

Tuesday, March 17, 2015

Working Weeks | Imuka

My office is located in COSAD Headquarters, across the hall from Imuka Studio. Weather I am working on things studio-related or not, I enjoy working while Imuka Studio is in session. Here are a few reasons why:

1. Everyone that comes through the door is excited. Imuka offers recording artist the ability to send their album to America through the Imuka Choir to be sold and gain exposure. In America, partners and audiences have the chance to support local talent and enjoy a variety of cultural music. Most of our artists are using a local studio for the first time or recording for the first time, so there is a natural excitement, too!

2. Community. When our largest choir was recording this month, we had people everywhere! They ordered lunch to the studio, and groups of people ate and relaxed outside between recording. Groups were frequently heard perfecting harmonies in various places outside the studio.

3. Music. The music at Imuka is often written by the artists, and encompasses different genres of music. At the office, I have every opportunity to enjoy listening to a variety of well-composed/produced music. I also get to listen while songs are being made (repeating phrases, perfecting sounds, booming music, etc…). It's fascinating. I admit many people wouldn’t prefer this as a working environment, but I love it. When I listen to the final version of one of the songs, I REALLY appreciate the work that went into it, and I know each line by heart.

4. Appreciation. There are many reasons to appreciate what is going on during an Imuka recording session. Weather you consider the studio’s equipment (donated by COSAD’s Canadian partner, Peter Young), our Producer (traveling from a reputable studio in Uganda to small-town Bukoba), the local artists or COSAD’s staff, it is just exceptionally nice to watch everyone’s hard work come together and pay off.

Friday, March 13, 2015

Dan Magic | Imuka

Dan Magic is the young, talented Recording Engineer who records and produces music at Imuka Studios. He travels from Uganda to work with Imuka Studios every few months when clients are scheduled. I think he has become a celebrity of sorts among Bukoba’s young people ;). In Uganda, Dan works for Dream Studios, which is one of East Africa’s most successful recording studios. His credits include Keko, Bobi Wine, Juliana, Eddie Yawe, Afrigo Band, Dr. Hilderman, Fidempa, and Henry Tigan (all well-known artists) among others. Dan’s experience & talent have made him successful with a wide variety of East African music genres, which is why at Imuka he easily records a rap-artist in the morning, and seamlessly transitions to the church choir in the afternoon. When Dan comes to Bukoba to record artists at Imuka Studios, he doesn’t just record & produce, but he also mentors artists and provides education about the professional world of music production. Indeed, this is a valuable an unique opportunity for the local talent in Kagera Region!

Take a look -via pictures- inside his work at Imuka Studios this month…

Working into the night...

Monday, March 9, 2015

Imuka Seminar

Imuka Studios put on a seminar & open house at the end of February for local artists. Many artists came from “Nani Mkali Bukoba Movie” (when Mr. Baitani was the Guest of Honor). Other artists were choirs from local churches. Imuka’s director and advisor, Israel Kagaruki, engaged the crowd in laughter while delivering a thoughtful, motivating speech, as he is know to do.

Once again, it was a great privilege to host Honorable Khamis Kagasheki as our event’s Guest of Honor. Hon. Kagasheki has granted COSAD immense support since the Social Enterprise’s Grand Openings in October 2014, and most recently donated a duplex near the COSAD Clinic to host volunteers working with COSAD.

One of the objectives of the Imuka Seminar was to bring artists to the studio who are ready to record. Dan Magic is COSAD’s partner & talented Recording Engineer from Dream Studios in Uganda. He conducted a question & answer session and gave tours of the studio for potential clients. All in all, it was a successful day, and we collected over 40 “forms of interest” from artists & groups ready to record.

Friday, February 20, 2015

Bukoba Talent Search | Imuka

This month, a local company called "Tesso & Sam Entertainment" is putting on an event called "Nani Mkali Bukoba Movie" which is a talent search similar to American Idol that includes dancing, singing, and acting. The participants are talented youth from the area, and the event gives them an opportunity to showcase their talent. Through this event, many of the local participants will be exposed to opportunities they would never have otherwise.

The first day of the event was on Sunday, and COSAD's CEO, Smart Baitani, was asked to be the Guest of Honor in light of the recent opening of Imuka Recording Studio. Imuka's targeted role is to promote the talented singers and dancers beyond the event, and give them opportunities to be mentored, trained, and to travel.

I am looking forward to getting to know some of these individuals personally when they join our Imuka community! In a place where opportunities are few and youth are MANY, programs like this can made a big difference encouraging growth and hope in young lives, and providing effective opportunities and connections as they decide who they will become in this life!

The area near the stage was bustling with youth and kids, while parents and adults circled the perimeter of the venue after all seats were filled. There were easily hundreds of people there!

Smart spoke and encouraged the crowd half way through the event, and afterwards was joined on stage by the owner of the venue (which was donated for the event at no cost).

Tuesday, February 17, 2015

Ask "Imuka" Why Cultural Understanding Matters

Imuka is a choral music and cultural dance group founded in 2009. Their mission within COSAD is to use the platform of choral music and cultural dance to promote economic development in their communities, and to foster cultural ties with the world.

Since its beginning, Imuka has been a pivotal part of the culture of COSAD, but I find that sometimes it is not the easiest aspect of COSAD to explain. It is easier to defend projects like the clinic, the OWOG program, or an educational program, because individuals freely agree these things are important. Statistics and other reports have proven the number of people living without satisfactory medical services, people living in poor areas without suitable income to take care of their families, and schools struggling to find teachers, resources and supplies to give their students a fighting change in the global economy.

But what about culture? If every program within COSAD costs valuable time, energy and money, why would we use resources for a program based on promoting culture?

1. Song and dance is an important part of culture in East Africa, which makes Imuka incredibly relevant.

Imuka means “RISE” in the local language. Song and dance is a very effective way to reach local people, encourage positive change, promote new ideas, build our programs, and facilitate effective partnerships.

2. Imuka builds cultural ties with the world.

Imuka builds cultural understanding and appreciation within COSAD’s international networks of friends and partners. For me, building relationships in a new culture has been incredibly rewarding and beneficial, but has potential to be difficult at times (especially with a language barrier)! The people who are involved in programs like Imuka understand what cultural differences are all about. Many of them have either traveled overseas with Imuka, or have hosed COSAD partners who are from a different country. They are willing to learn things about my culture, and they help me to gradually recognize, embrace, and enjoy Tanzania's culture.

3. Imuka contributes to the economic development in their communities, especially COSAD programs and projects.

Imuka travels internationally not only to showcase the unique culture of East Africa, but to raise awareness about COSAD’s work in Tanzania, sell merchandise made through the micro-enterprise projects, connect volunteers with local programs, and raise funds.

Two significant connections were made in Imuka's most recent USA tours. COSAD connected with Edina Covenant Church who became one of the COSAD Clinic’s main financial supporters, and I was introduced to COSAD which opened the opportunity for me to become a long-term volunteer.

4. Imuka promotes excellence, and seeks to preserve and share East African music and dance for generations to come through COSAD’s new social enterprise.

The new Imuka Recording Studio (opened Oct. 2014) exists to reach the local community to inspire, preserve, and showcase talent and culture to the world. It is a place where individuals, youth, and choirs come to be mentored and gain valuable information. It is a place where global connections are possible through international tours and CD sales. It is a place where artists come to record music at an affordable cost, and where the profits will go back into community development and sustainability. It is a place of empowerment and hope, where your voice can be heard, and where culture is celebrated.

And yes, outside of all of these things, choral music is absolutely our CEO’s passion. :)

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