Description
This paper takes analytical, descriptive and practical approach to unveil some new musical perspectives and useful strategies for peace and social change engagements by musicians in Kenya. While it is obvious that music entertains, it is not obvious that many of our musicians are well positioned to effectively use music to bring about peace and social change as it is sometimes desired. This paper therefore, proposes (a) Singing and Leadership (b) Percussion for Inclusion (c) Nonviolence (d) the Creative Process in Peace building (e) Motive for Motion (f) Songwriting (g) Storytelling and Project Presentation (h) Trauma and Music (i) Workshop Leadership (j) Drum Circles (k) the Musical Playground (l) Composing Communities as critical areas our musicians should be enlightened to be able to effectively contribute to the peace and social change initiatives in our society. The presentation draws from my personal experience during the infamous post-election violence in Kenya 2007/08 as a composer and performer, and how my training in advanced community music leadership in the Netherlands has impacted my creativity particularly in the use of the power of music to connect communities and to bring about some social change.
| Keywords | Creativity, Drum circles, lyrics, nonviolence, performance, Social change, storytelling |
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