Ethnomusicology

I was very excited to teach Ethnomusicology (the study of music from other cultures) to the Titchies these last two weeks.  It was tons of fun sharing a Malagasy song from my time in Mada and the kids really loved it.  Then, it was even more fun when the kids brought songs from their home countries or their new homes around Africa.

A previous music teacher taught the kids a song from her families' time with the Dasinach people.  I was so excited that they remembered it to share with me.  Below.

You may recognize this next song if it were sung in English, "There's no one like Jesus."  I first learned it in Malawi, now my Kenyan girls taught it to me in Swahili.  

I love that my Dutch boy joined in too.

Our next step was to write our own songs.  Since this can be a long process I gave the kids a tune they recognized and they wrote their own lyrics. I am always impressed with what they come up with in 15 minutes.

On the last day of the unit I got an update letter from the missionary family of one of my students.  They are holding a worship songwriting event next month.  The timing of the letter was perfect as we wrapped up our unit.  After learning about the worship music from the cultures of these kids we took the opportunity to pray for the Dukana people of northern Kenya who will be coming together to write their own worship music soon.