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Music is a cultural context. Music is trationally a part of the culture. The Gwo-ka is a family of folk music we played. I learned you have to be patient to learn this kind of traditions which might be challenging in a culture where everything goes fast and working is the basis of the lives instead of the social lives. It was a great experience and let me think about my own traditions.

"Gwo-ka is a dance of improvisation by excellence, a dance of the instinct, of the moment. Gwo-ka, dance of resistance, of resilience and adaptation: Dance of Life." - Quote Booklet

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Today I learned about a beautiful Lithuanian tradition. Where te plant a different tree for each born child. And when the child eventually dies of old age, the tree is cut down and made into an instrument called “Kanklės”.
After that, we learned to play the “Ka”. Today was al about making a connection through music!

Sjoerd

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I had a lot of fun with the drums (ka). We learned 7 different rhythms. I also learned the difference between a male skin and a female skin and what the difference in sound is. Physics, I thought hey cool to see what difference in pitch those ropes give.

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I learned today that I can't drum. There are 7 rhythms plus my rhythm. The enslaved people used the barrels they had to work with to make them into drums. The meals that are served to the little kids are pretty good. How well behaved they were.

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I am impressed with drumming - it was my a longtime dream - to try to play the drums - and it came true. It is available to both children and adults. Everyone resonates with the sound of the drum in their heart. This is magic! This music brought us all together, and we sounded like a one musical group...
and I got to know how the daily life of schoolchildren in Guandelup looks like. I was surprised by the discipline and atmosphere that prevailed at the school. Such calmness and harmony ... unhurried movements of teachers, their calm voices and manner of communicating with children! I wonder if they have psychologist in the Guandeloup  schools?

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What I learned today……

I learned that Gwo Ka goes back to the period of the enslavement.

I learned there are 7 rhythms and each of them plays a special role.

I learned that music connects people. Once we started playing the drums, everyone was connected and had fun.

It was a very nice experience, I liked it very much!

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What have I learned today: that it was only in the last century that people started using the term 'culture' to give political interpretation to national borders. Traditional knowledge and customs know no geological boundaries. That is why culture is not fixed but dynamic through time and social changes.

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Today we were able to visit a Gwo Ka course.
I really underestimated the difficulty of playing it, it always looks so easy if you see someone playing it.
Our teacher was amazing. He did not only play the drums but showed us with his facial expressions his emotions, it was so much fun to watch him and really made me want to play it.

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The Gwo Ka experience was great today and I‘ve really enjoyed playing it - I think it was almost like stepping into a new world!
I‘ve learned that the slaves, that managed to escape from their masters, tried to hide themselves the place we have been and try to build a new hidden community. I thought about the text „How to make a slave“, that I read yesterday and tried to imagine the fear that the people must have had at that time.

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The Gwo Ka workshop was not only fun, but also educational.  The different rhythms linked to the different emotions, the differences between the types of skins and their effects, but also the stories that emerged.  The visit to the museum has made everyone think.  Slavery, but also the wars, have an effect on how others look at you to this day.  A misplacement, but the harsh reality.  Music, the language that everyone understands, can release a lot in people and provide good and substantive conversations.