My reflections on an amazing trip are in the form of a poem which sums up six remarkable days in Uganda with Singing Wells….illustrated with a few of my photos.
Through Ugandan Eyes
We travel a road under African skies
And imagine your world through your soulful eyes
Their silence speaks volumes, a story to tell
We’ll re-tell your story, we are Singing Wells
We travel a road to a world far apart
Your country, Uganda, it captures our heart
Your eyes are a window that’s opening wide
To tell us your story that’s hidden inside
So sing us your story and dance us your life
Share with us your memories and don’t let them die
Sing us your history and dance us your life
And your musical culture will flourish and thrive
We travel a road under burnishing sun
Green and red landscape, our journey is long
Our reward is your welcome, your music, your grace
Your inquisitive eyes, your sweet smiling face
We travel a road to the beat of your drum
The calabash crash and the steel on your thumb
The bells and the strings, the whistle and holler
The dance in the ring, the leader, the follower
So sing us your story and dance us your life
And show us your world that is hidden inside
Sing us your history and dance us your life
In musical words where your heritage lies
We travel a road of music discovery
The map and the route to cultural recovery
We witness your history, your stories unfurl
We capture your memories to share with the world
You travel a road and must keep on walking
And peddling the wheels that keep your world turning
Years distance the pain of the conflict and strife
Your music your saviour, it once saved your life
So sing us your story and dance us your life
Your history’s a melody, you keep it alive
Sing us your memories, there’s volumes to tell
And we’ll capture your story, we are Singing Wells
On my last day in Uganda, just before I had to leave the rest of the team and travel back to London alone, Akello recorded one of her songs with the Watmon Cultural Troupe, in the gardens of the Airport Guesthouse. It’s one of my favourites and brings back happy memories of an amazing experience. Have a listen…
Victoria Denison
December 2012
