Black Soul

A composition for string quartet, drums and voice.

Program Notes for Black Soul.

A composition that is inspired by a poem by Monique Ilbondo from Burkina Faso. 

A piece that traces Black Female existence in Afrikan. From the golden days of Queen Modjadji sinisa pula, Nzinga the military tactician and Empress Taytu the crasher of the fascist Italians in the battle of Adwa. The piece opens with a dominant female voice commanding and leading the troops.

With time, the introduction of the colonial project and with manipulations of Theophilus Shepstone with his system of indirect rule the patriarchal cello, viola, 1st and 2nd violin and drums start to drown the Black female voice. The struggle and the continuous and assertive cry for identity of the lead voice lands in to the fearless ears of Marimba Ani, Bell Hooks, Francis Luella Welsing, Zine Magubane and Chimamanda Ngozi Adichie, where calls of unity and push back with the 1st violin, 2nd violin then later the cello are heard and adopted.

The piece ends on rather on a imagine future that we heading to, were equality and harmony exist in the black nation.

Program Notes by 

Lehlohonolo Peega