Meeting our Placement Partners

On the Monday of the orientation period, aka Day 3, we were to meet our placement partners via a luncheon. However, the day before, during the Swahili language lesson, I was pulled out of class to be told that my placement was going to be changed. The Chivane Cultural Group I was supposed to be working with was contracted to perform in Zanzibar for a few weeks. Great for them, but really disappointing for me. I was really set on working with this group. But shit happens for a reason, right?!

So instead of meeting with my placement partner, Mama Clementina aka Mama C and one of the drivers, Ahmani, took me to the Baobab Studio. The Baobab Studio is a community art studio where local artist can make and sell their work. Additionally, there is a music studio in the back where beats and “instrumentation” can be made and vocal tracks can be added later to make Swahili Hip-Hop. SWAHILI HIP-HOP!!! I was pretty excited to work with this group and see what I can do with and for them.