Culture

Last night we went to the house of some great friends. John is from Ireland, and much of his family was visiting. As with any night spent at their house, as soon as plates were cleared, the music started up. John is a fabulous bodrah player , and he and Fitz love to get together and jam. We sat out on the deck and sang old Irish songs until deep into the night. So deep into the night, in fact, that the kids all ended up sleeping over.

At one point, Fitz turned to me and said " I am so jealous of the culture of Ireland." We are both very Irish, but it's very different havig grown up in the true culture. They have literally hundreds and hundreds of songs, beautiful sad old balads, and hilarious story songs, and you yell out one line and eveyone jumps in.

America is so big, there is so much there, that it seems culture can get watered down a bit. Sure we share the culture of many different places, but it's not the same. Each song last night seemed to bring up old memories, or old neighborhoods, and people and places 'back hom'. It was such a joy to watch them all. I was so happy to just be able to share a little bit last night.

It also reminded me once more of the fact that Pipo has that... he has his own culture from a small country that is rich and beautiful. And I need to always keep that alive for him. He loves his Haitian handdrum (though he was pretty interested in the bodrah last night!) and we do try and find opportunities to imerse him in Haitian culture... I just hope it's enough. Watching this family together last night, I knew the power of having others around you to share those memories. And I am so thankful that Pipo has his best friend from Haiti in the next town to share some of those memories.

Comments

[Elizabeth]

The theme of a conference I just returned from, Words As Mouments, have prompted me to think more than ever about words and communication.
Then, I read your latest entry and here is what I am thinking ...
Seems to me that if we did not have songs or words with which to communicate, there would be little color or texture in life.
Seems to me that your family is a very vibrant band in the proverbial circle of life - and I thank you for sharing your stories!

[Rich]

It seems like you and Fitz had a great time playing music last night with your Irish friends. You have great insight and understanding how important it is for people to hang on to your native culture while experiencing the great melting pot that is America

[fitz]

It sure was fun--though I wonder if we needed to play until three in the morning:)

There is a great difference between music shared as a culture and music shared as entertainment.

[Laraine]

It's wonderful that you are keeping music alive. It's important not to allow technology and progress to strip us all of a shared heritage of human expression.

[elizabeth cobblah]

Interesting. I've experienced the same sort of singing gatherings in Ghana where a mix of generations, genders and roles are united in spontaneous sustained song. As an outsider i feel very included and joyous because the rythms and tunes are accessible and evocative but i never wondered till reading your blog how African Americans might feel....if they would feel jealous of a culture that once was theirs but they are not heir to. The story of the African diaspora holds such bitterness and alienation except for a few. i wish West African music had the appeal and value for African americans that Irish song has for you and Fitz! Your identiities are all the more enriched.

[Julia]

I love the Irish fairy tales. They are so different, and so fierce. So many of them end unhappily for the protaganist. Which I suppose makes for good music.