Yes, colonialism is alive and kicking (literally) within Europe. Let's talk about music.This is a response to a
post by @
paulfree14. He posted an animated video worth seeing. Please watch that first, before you continue. It's important.
Finland's Hundred Years of Colonialism - Suomen 100 vuotta itsenäistä kolonialismia
by Samoar on YouTube
This is very important to know and to acknowledge, to inform oneself and to work against.
It is easy to finger-point towards the USA, Canda, Australia, Brasilia etc., but this has also happened on our continent, is happening. I did not know about this until I was beyond 20. I had no clue about European colonization and oppression was actively done not only on other continents, but also on our continent. Learning about the Sami was my wake-up call. By now I know there are even more suppressed cultures and languages in Europe, in Germany, for example the
sorbs here in Germany. And again suppressing the language was an integral tool to eradicate the culture. It's always the same. And even within Germany this is not widely known. But we have to talk about it. These days I read that some
sorbs are again threatened with violence by right wing racists. The irony is that even though I have met a few sorbish people I find it much easier to connect to the Sami culture. The reason again is: music. It is more difficult for me to find.
Yes, to me music has always been an important tool not only for joy and inspiration, but also for information, connection, it was music that taught me so much about Human Rights and lack thereof. Music lets me connect first, then do research and if possible talk to people and listen to more music. It was music that taught me about the Sami. I learned about this unique singing style, the Joik. I was happy to find a few Sami books with poems and other texts, and more music.
As far as I am concerned, it did begin with Mari Boine's Gula Gula as featured within the
1990 One World One Voice project where I met her music for the very first time, she had just released her international debut album of the same name on Peter Gabriel's Real World label.
Mari Boine has taught me a lot, made me aware of so many things. But in the context of this post I would like to mention two songs by her. As she is a Norwegian singer, she made a point by singing one very angry song on Gula Gula in Norwegian. It's a scathing account on how to suppress a culture, a minority. When talking to her she told me that this song was important for her, it helped her to release the anger she harbored inside. It was needed for her to get on with her very own journey.
Oppskrift For Herrefolk / Recipe for a Master Race
Oppskrift For Herrefolk
by Mari Boine - Topic on YouTube
draw boundaries on the map
and call it The State
be King Minister
Protector and Father
send bailiffs and businessmen
priests and soldiers
to the people who own
the land you take
use bible and booze
and bayonet
break promises and agreements
be a diplomat
use articles of law
against ancient rights
create prejudice
discrimination
and hate
let no one question your authority
that’s how you suppress a minority
let language and culture
take their place in the museum
as research object
and tourist attraction
give lively speeches
on each festive occasion
let it disintegrate and die
that which was a nation
let no one question your authority
that’s how you suppress a minority.
Later she expanded her musical palette, and Gumppet Holvot is one of my favourite songs by her. Here she integrates a South American quenacho flute, qenilla flute, bass, violin, bass drum, an African Kalimba (thumb piano) and drum. Here she has found her culture embracing self, she said it was very important to her not only to explore and to know about her own culture, but also to communicate with other cultures. She also networked at the time to help many indigenous people to connect and to work together against colonialism, racism and suppression.
I am very happy I caught her when she toured with an African band, Vedaki. She said that a joint album was in the works, unfortunately that has never surfaced, as that evening was fantastically good.
Gumpet Holvot / The Wolves Howl
Gumppet Holvot
by Mari Boine - Topic on YouTube
Samiland or Sápmi is a country that was there before the borders built barriers between the Sami's space between Norway to Russia. This is why I will not restrict myself to Finnland, music is easily crossing borders anyway, or so it should. There is another band that was very important for me, Hedningarna. They were a Swedish fold band who expanded the traditional folk palette immensely. Her third album called "Trä" is a huge statement. They were joined by Finnish singers and for the central song from the album they were joined by the Finnish Sami singer Wimme Saari, whom I also had the pleasure to meet and talk to. He came across as quiet and thoughtful, but once on stage and joiking ... he is powerful. He married the Joik to yet another world, to techno and electronics. But on this song Swedish and finnish folk meet Joiks from the past via samples from historical recordings and Wimme.
I asked Mari Boine what she thought of Hedningarna, who at the time were making a huge impression on me. I was playing that album up and down, left right, front and back. She also said that they were very important, especially within their culture encompassing approach, and that track with Wimme is outstanding. At the time we did not know that Hedningarna's next album would be a collaboration with Wimme.
To me Trä is the quintessential 90s album from my point of hearing the world. They even surpassed Nirvana, and that does say something.
Tuuli
Hedningarna - Tuuli
by magumei on YouTube
There is one more Sami artist I would like to mention, Nils-Aslak Valkeapää. I did not know him, Mari Boine recommended him to me, he was important for her. He was born in Finnland, was a singer and a writer. Some of his books have been translated, also into English. He was a leading figure in establishing Sami culture as a voice. He was also eager to explore, from his first record in 1968 onward he was open to pop music, country (!), electronics, jazz, soundscapes and field recordings. As far as I understand he seems to have been instrumental in the awakening of the younger Sami generation in the 70s, that began to explore and embrace their heritage and to fight the oppression. He was also active at organizing World Council of Indigenous Peoples meetings, giving indigenous people and especially artists a voice on a global scale. Mari Boine was already actively helping to network and to connect in order to reclaim voices.
With the language barrier in full operation I found it difficult to get a deeper access to his works. CDs were hard to get, sometimes quite expensive, today it has become a bit easier with download stores.
This is the piece that I always found most impressive by Nils-Aslak Valkeapää, it is making use of a lot of field recordings and joik, building a sound picture of Sami life, as well as Sami struggles against the state.
https://youtu.be/V7O-dVU_lBE
Sápmi, vuoi Sápmi
by Nils-Aslak Valkeapää - Topic on YouTube
Addendum:
The CD for this track is oop and right now the only offer at discogs is €50. There is a flac download available for €12,49 at 7digital, strange enough I cannot find anything at discogs. I thought I had seen him there some time ago.