Kenya Ponderings - Dr. Jamea Sale

Yellow-Bird

3/15/202

I awoke this morning to a rhythmic tap-tap-tapping only to see our sweet bird at the window. Yellow-Bird visits several windows around the house, observing and singing her sweet song. She quickly takes flight if someone approaches, but Christine waited patiently one morning and captured her sweet song.

Morning Sounds

3/10/2023

It is incredible how quickly one can acclimate to the way of life in new surroundings. We have become accustomed to sitting on the front porch of our villa in the morning enjoying the sounds of nearby animals proclaiming a new day. Roosters competitively crow, cows complain that it is milking time while lambs cry to their mothers, and as background there is birdsong and the distant voices of children playing while adults plan their workday. What a joyful setting for the start of day.

We four, Greg, Jamea, Christine, and Niccole, marvel that we have been living closely together for so many days without tension. When a group of colleagues must literally hang their laundry out together, relationships will be tested.

However, there is a positive and affirming energy among the Kenya crew, otherwise known as Greg and the Girls, that I am not sure I have ever experienced before. Our days are jam-packed with work, learning from the Kenyan people, and keeping up with connections at home.

In the evenings, we are ready to decompress, and the house is filled with laughter as we share stories of the day.

The sharing does not end with our Kenyan experiences. We have found time to sit together in silence, doing so with no discomfort.

Greg has been a particularly good sport as conversations turn to “girl-stuff.” And we’ve shared many giggles as we tried new things together.

This knobby fruit is called bitter melon, and it is aptly named. We tried it raw and fried. Even though we didn’t care for it, it was fun to test it together.

When we begin long discussions together, there is a ring of laughter and an exchange of affirmation with one another. We are learning about each other’s lives and feelings and building trust in our relationships.

I believe that bonds are strengthened when humans can lift one another up, affirm and serve one another. I think each of my colleagues feel the same. Perhaps that accounts for the ease between us, even in the closest of quarters.

Here’s to dear friends! The 2023 Kenya-Crew will always be dear to my heart.

An Affirmation of Pride and Personhood Through Music - Niccole Williams, MME

After only a few days, we have fallen in love with the students at St. Anne’s High School and Kapkemich Primary school. Every day we are greeted with waves, hugs, handshakes, and questions about our day. Their sweet personalities, playfulness with each other, and eagerness to learn remind us so much of our students back home.

The girls at St. Anne’s, in particular, have been gracious, patient, and open with us as we have asked them to do many unaccustomed things. Making bubbles and singing through straws (SOVT), matching voice pitch to a bouncing beach ball, and doing many different (and dramatic) forms of movement while singing must have seemed very odd to the girls. Nevertheless, they have embraced methods of easing vocal tension and the use of learning tools for creating a blended, balanced choral sound.

We rehearsed with the girls from 7pm-9:30pm. The singers were rockstars as we worked tediously on a passage for alignment of pitch, word inflection, and blend. We showed the St. Anne’s HS singers many different techniques for learning musical passages, as well. Watching the girls’ faces light up as their sound finally melded into a beautiful passage gave me chills. Our evening concluded with a small dance party celebrating the choir’s hard work. Celebrating the kids enthusiasm, giggles, and pride in musicianship. has been a highlight of each day.

Working daily with my colleagues Dr. Jamea Sale and Christine Freeman at St. Anne’s High School and Kapkemich primary school has inspired my continued growth as a teacher. I have always respected them greatly, but teaching alongside them daily and watching them interact with the students has made my appreciation for them grow tenfold. In a few short days, I have learned many tools and ideas that I will excitedly tuck into my teaching toolbox to try out with my students back home.

Even more so, the way my colleagues are invested in the girls as whole persons and not just as musicians is absolutely beautiful. Daily mantras from them have included “strong women use their voices in any way they can” and “be the change you want to see in the world.” Teaching music is important, but reminding and affirming a sense of pride and strength in your students’ personhood is even more worthwhile. I am humbled and honored to work with Jamea and Christine and to have their friendship.

Students rehearsing Bluebird with Christine Freeman, MME

Overview of Our First Few Days - Christine Freeman, MME

We have been in Kenya for three and a quarter days now. The welcome has been humbling. Our gracious host, Fr. Anthony Kiplagat, greeted us heartily hosting a celebration for his birthday, and our friend Lydia’s birthday, along with the 42nd Wedding Anniversary of our new friends from FOSA (Friends of St. Anne’s), Ruth & Dan AND it was Dan’s birthday. We had Mass at Fr. Anthony’s home and a decadent buffet of traditional foods from Nandi county.

Fr. Anthony introduced members leadership he has founded as part of the community based “Singing Hills of Kaplelmet.” They stood and spoke one at a time about their personal experiences and goals for the future of the organization which has built a community music building in Nandi Hills. Fr. Anthony and the member’s vision for strengthening the musical community is inspiring. 

We enjoyed a long talk and then Mulatia, a guitarist and leadership member started to play records. Fr. Anthony taught us some dancing to his tribal Kenyan music played on 45-records. After several long days of travel and so much fun, we were truly exhausted for the rocky ride back to Kapkemich and overwhelmed by the first encounters with our new friends.

Our second day was rest and recovery, trying to adjust to the new time zone nine hours ahead of central standard time. The day yielded many great conversations with Ruth and Dan Schukmann-Dakotas regarding their love for the people of Kapkemich and their drive to give young girls opportunities. 

We made friends with a graduate of St. Anne’s, Mercy, who is to help guide us through our stay. She loves to sing and is a gentle, beautiful young woman. 

Jamea, Niccole, and I began working on some of the music and lesson plans we prepared in the states, talking through details and practicing. Mercy soon joined us in singing Bring Me Little Water Silvy, by Huddie Ledbetter arranged by Moira Smiley, and Si Le Le by Bobby McFerrin as arranged by Voces 8. It was a highlight of the day and surely will be one of our sweetest memories here.

To finish the day, Lydia Kageha welcomed us to her home in the evening “to take a meal.” Conversation flowed about how to best support Kenyans, rather than to do only what we think is best, and to build relationships, listen, and learn.  There will be more on this in Niccole’s next blog post. We again got dancing lessons for more contemporary Kenyan music and made lasting friends. Rafiki zangu! My friends!

Our third day was dedicated to preparation, rehearsing, reflection, and gathering information in order to meet the needs of the individuals we were meeting. The groundwork is laid, the work is ramping up, and our joy is immense. We are a bit short on sleep and jet lagged but are learning so much with each passing moment spent with the people involved with St. Anne’s Girls School, Kapkemich Primary School, and FOSA. Kwaherini! Goodbye all!