Cultureshock

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Video transcript

My mother taught me songs but she never taught me how to sing. I remember from when I was four years old singing to Dolly Parton’s ‘Jolene’ and Kenny Rogers’ ‘Amanda’.

‘Jolene Jolene Jolene Jolene please dont take my man from me..... Jolene Jolene Jolene Jolene please dont take my man away from me.....’

Of course I never really understood the English language then, Shona being my mother tongue but I realized as I grew up that one does not really need to understand the language of a song in order to enjoy it. I also realized that music has become an important aspect of my life. I use music to express my emotions, my joys, my sorrows. Also music is an important aspect of my Shona culture. In my culture people sing songs to worship ancestral spirits for example, some people use music to worship God or to celebrate weddings! At weddings we sing songs like:

‘Muroora tauya naye, muroora tauya naye, muroora tauya naye  nemagumbeze, Muroora tauya naye, muroora tauya naye, muroora tauya naye  nemagumbeze............!’

I am also a religious person and through attending church activities I became very involved in musical activities from a young age. When I was at school I was a member of the church choir and through this I further developed my passion for music.

I have a song for every occasion or in my language when I’m feeling in love I can sing

‘Ndazvipira pari zvino, ndazvipira kuvatsime remwoyo wako, ndiwe chido changu chikuru, hakuna mumwe ane rudo rwangu.......'   I sing when I’m feeling down and when I’m in a happy mood I love to dance to upbeat music! 

When I came to the UK I realized that music has helped me to deal with times when I miss home. It has become like my refuge and when I miss home especially my mum, I find myself singing the songs that we used to sing together. 

‘Mirai neni, mirai neni, mirai nenimuponisi mirai neni, Handina masimba ekumira pachangu muponisi mira neni, mirai neni, mirai neni'

Sometimes I hear a song that reminds me of my brother and I find myself smiling or crying. When I feel lonely if I listen to music I feel uplifted and I end up forgetting all my worries. People use different instruments to create music yet most of the songs and sounds have a therapeutic effect on all of us. When I listened to people singing as they celebrate the world cup I realized that music can actually bring peace to this world and through songs the people of this world can be united as one!