Spending seven weeks traveling through East Africa this summer, I came across a lot of cool stuff, but this is one thing I definitely have to share with the Service Artist community. I attended a high school library opening event in western Kenya (the library was opened by an organization I have worked with, Kijana Educational Empowerment Initiative), and after the event, some of the students gathered and were working on some original songs they had written together. When I got out my video camera, they were happy to do a performance for me. 

I've embedded the two songs below, and without a doubt, they are impressive! Titled "Success" and "Mathematics," the songs carry a positive message that, as the group leader explains at the end of each song, they wrote to remind other students of the importance of finishing their education and overcoming challenges - even in tough subjects like mathematics! Very, very cool to hear and watch these students for a number of reasons: 1) they provide an inspiring example of how music can be used to positively impact others; 2) you can hear combined influences of traditional African and Western hip hop music in their songs; and 3) they are a reminder that music can still mean something at a local community level!

"Success"

"Mathematics"