Page 19 - FMH7
P. 19

Shortly after, I began to receive phone calls from various women’s groups asking us to perform. It’s not something we set out to do, we simply wanted to sing together! We always feel uplifted and regenerated after singing together, I guess some people feel the same when they hear us. We’ve performed for Senorita Cin- ema, which is an all Latina film festival, for weddings, Creative Women Unite events, women’s art markets, POC Zine event, we’ve opened for Yetlanezi; an Indigenous group from Guadalajara Mexico; at a fundrais- ing gala to raise awareness of domestic abuse and other events that support women’s causes, and sometimes just for fun! We’ve gotten mostly positive responses, but a few negative responses, as well. Some people believe that only men should play a ‘ceremonial’ drum, and have been outspoken in stating that. As a matter of fact, there was a photo posted on Instagram of us performing at the POC Zine festival, where I first met you, Anna. Immediately after it was posted a young girl replied, telling how women should not even touch the drum, that it was bad luck and disrespectful or some nonsense. In some indigenous traditions that may be the case. In my tradition, in the lineage I follow, the beat of the drum represents the heartbeat of Unci Maka; Grandmother Earth; what could be more natural than women playing the drum, I ask? We have the support of several of my Chiefs and Elders and believe me, there would be no question if we were being disrespect- ful. I believe the songs we sing are medicine and when we sing with good intentions, in a respectful manner; “in a good way”; as we say, it can only be a positive experience for anyone involved. Chloe posted a picture of us performing at a different event. A young woman replied how empowered she felt to see us; women; singing and drumming. She is also a ceremonial singer with her nation, one in which only men drum. She spoke of being frustrated and said when she’s singing, she imagines herself drumming as well. She was happy to see it being done. As I mentioned earlier, I sing with a traditional Sundance Drum group and also play various percussion and flute with a few local rock bands. “Coup de Ville” is a grove-rock band, “kayummagi” is a political flavored Pinoy Rock band, “Different Kind Of Monkey” is a melodic percussion ensemble. I come from a long line of musicians and non-conformists. I describe myself as an “artivist” and have been called subversive a time or two.
https://www.facebook.com/pages/Coup-de-Ville/651174855004052?ref=hl https://www.facebook.com/cancegaxicasunidas?ref=hl http://creativewomenunite.blogspot.com/
https://www.facebook.com/creativewomenunite?fref=ts
  































































































   17   18   19   20   21