Imagine stepping into a room in Minneapolis, where the air is thick with anticipation and cultural melodies. A group of Somali musicians, bonded by shared heritage, encircles a trove of instruments. Among them is Ahmed Ismail Yusuf, their passionate leader. They play tunes steeped in emotions as deep as the Indian Ocean, a rhythm echoing the nostalgic cafes of Mogadishu. This is “Somali blues,” a sound as soulful as it is historic.
“The lyrics are just showing you what it means,” Ahmed muses, his voice a tapestry of memories. It’s a genre reminiscent of a Somalia lost to the winds of civil war. A music of lamentation and longing. “It is this lugubrious, lamentation of love not returned,” he explains, each note striking a historical chord. Who among us hasn’t felt love’s sting or reveled in its chase?
In the midst of this harmonious gathering, the ensemble Araa, prepares for an event known as “Meet You at the Crossroads.” Co-produced by the University of St. Thomas’ Jay Phillips Center for Interreligious Studies and the Cultural Fluency Initiative, this forthcoming concert is a beacon of cultural connection.
David Jordan Harris, a mind behind the concert, passionately shares, “This is really about the life of the city. More cultural groups grace the Twin Cities than ever before. But, do we truly know each other? How do we learn?” His rhetorical pause hangs like a note, inviting us to listen, to engage. Indeed, what better way to bridge gaps than through music?
“Meet You at the Crossroads” merges Somali blues with songs inspired by Black gospel music. An evolution of an earlier venture, as Beck Lee, the helm behind the Cultural Fluency Initiative, contrasts, “We did a proof of concept concert salon where we juxtaposed Sephardic and Somali music. Experiencing these cultures side by side was intriguing.” Art is, after all, a dialogue without words.
This time, the duo of Lee and Harris brings forth Ahmed Yusuf to breathe life into Somali melodies, while JD Steele infuses Black soul’s essence.
Among the harmonies, Yusuf stands, a central figure in the rehearsal at Pangea World Theatre, as captured by Liam James Doyle for MPR News. Steele, a veteran and creative visionary known for The Steeles, reflects, “I love cross-cultural, cross-genre projects. They’ve been a cornerstone of my career. Combining multicultural communities excites me.” His enthusiasm is infectious, a testament to the vitality art injects into life.
Steele performs alongside his band and the MacPhail Community Youth Choir, demonstrating a new collaborative song to uplift hearts at the concert. During a rehearsal with the choir, Yusuf fondly recalls, “It’s been long since I’ve been part of something like this. The last was in Somalia.” His praise for Steele is heartfelt, a nod to the maestro’s dedication.
As the concert dates draw near, Steele articulates the core mission: leaving each soul more joyous than it arrived. An artist’s duty is clear, he asserts, “To uplift, inspire, and encourage. Today, our communities feel the sharp need for hope and inspiration.”
The initial concert graces the stage at the University of St. Thomas on April 6, heralding the school’s Culture of Encounter Ideas Festival. Another echoes on April 27 at St. John’s University in Collegeville.
In a world yearning for unity, these melodies not only entertain but forge connections more profound than any speech. Weaving diverse stories, they ask us to reflect: How can we dance to someone else’s song? Would you join this symphony of shared humanity?
Edited By Ali Musa
Axadle Times International – Monitoring.
