African music in Second Life--Tamsin Barzane

The recently concluded African Festival on Second Life had many musical moments, thought that was never intended to be its focus. But it proved a maxim, one that Oliha Yiwama mentioned in his talks on both drumming and spiritual traditions--music and dance bring people together, celebration is prayer, the spirit can unite people and make their spirits soar! (well, all right, he said it more eloquently).

We wanted live music and nearly had it in two doses. The very kind Bourque Rau promotes Second Life live music, and did her best to hunt down performers who worked either in African style or something close. She connected me with the very talented Peregrine Singh, who mulled over the possibilities of bringing in musician friends from Gambia and Guinea, and I began to salivate. Real life prevented it, but who knows in future? And if not for sound problems, we would have had master rl drummer Oliha Yiwama bringing us West African rhythms in several traditions, which we trust will still happen in times ahead.

We had three fabulous DJs play African music: HarleyMC Homewood, Blade Unsustainable and Isabelle Mavendorf (Soulman Sands is another tested and true, but unavailable during the festival). Their tastes were all different, and all fabulous--we had Afrobeatphilacs, African house music miners, and plaintive balladeers. Miles Barbasz was feverishly writing down artists' names, and he'd better hand over his list!

We filled the sim (it's a homestead, but I'm convinced it would have been filled even in a full prim)! People tried and tried and finally tped in, that's how good the sound reports were. And they chatted as the fireworks went off and the hips shook--not senseless spamastic gestures, but conversations and spontaneous eruptions of joy. Friendships were forged, and our last night's Best Dressed in African Attire saw a bevy of beauties of both sexes (winners--Blac Quartz and Pietro Eberhardt), dancing under the stars.

One of the best musical events was totally unplanned. I sat in a vendor's stall with Feretian String, just chatting. Oronoque Westland wandered by, and asked if her playing a flute would be annoying. Certainly not! Soon her haunting South American tunes were joined by my Yoruba talking drum and Fere on a standing one--then Oron switched to electric sitar, then guitar and steel pan. We had a jam session that lasted for close to two hours, joined by Solylence Houston, Szvanna Anatra, the others who danced and played. For a while we were the all female Princesses of Percussion (POP)--Fere to thank for that sporty moniker--then were joined by others of the male persuasion.

At times we actually seemed in sync, and a thrill swept over us! I hope scripters make more musical instruments and work in some timing controls, because, as Oliha Yiwama pointed out, this is a great opportunity for those who never had exposure or practice--or skill--to make beautiful music. But we're more than happy to make a joyful noise here!