Sunday 2 October 2011
The Gondwana Dawn Project is a music collaboration between Indian and African music. It was conceived by Robin Hogarth ( a two-time Grammy Award winning producer, composer) in conjunction with Sumitra Guha from India (an icon of traditional Indian music and also a Grammy Award winner). After many auditions at the 7 Peermont-supported high schools, Robin eventually selected the final eight choir members to provide the African voices on the album. The accompaniment will be mainly by professional Indian musicians on their traditional instruments and Sumitra will be singing.
The trip is being generously sponsored by Peermont, who through their programme of support to schools in pursuit of excellence, saw this as a project which fitted into their objective of "Lead, Motivate and Inspire"
For most of us this was not only our first trip to India, but our first flight!! You can only imagine the excitement, and terror all in one! Peermont, through their School Support Programme (PSSP), had truly created a dream for us all.
Once we had all met in the designated spot at OR Tambo, accompanied by our various families and friends, we were met by Sarah Benjamin from Peermont who supplied a much needed caffeine fix and encouragement. It was so reassuring to have her there, especially when Katleho's name didn't appear on the computer for some strange reason. However, Sarah sorted out the problem and we were ready to fly - in all senses of the word.
Then off to our guesthouse, "Greenview", which would be our home for the next four weeks.
The Gondwana Dawn Project is a music collaboration between Indian and African music. It was conceived by Robin Hogarth ( a two-time Grammy Award winning producer, composer) in conjunction with Sumitra Guha from India (an icon of traditional Indian music and also a Grammy Award winner). After many auditions at the 7 Peermont-supported high schools, Robin eventually selected the final eight choir members to provide the African voices on the album. The accompaniment will be mainly by professional Indian musicians on their traditional instruments and Sumitra will be singing.
Robin Hogarth
Sumitra Guha
The trip is being generously sponsored by Peermont, who through their programme of support to schools in pursuit of excellence, saw this as a project which fitted into their objective of "Lead, Motivate and Inspire"
For most of us this was not only our first trip to India, but our first flight!! You can only imagine the excitement, and terror all in one! Peermont, through their School Support Programme (PSSP), had truly created a dream for us all.
Once we had all met in the designated spot at OR Tambo, accompanied by our various families and friends, we were met by Sarah Benjamin from Peermont who supplied a much needed caffeine fix and encouragement. It was so reassuring to have her there, especially when Katleho's name didn't appear on the computer for some strange reason. However, Sarah sorted out the problem and we were ready to fly - in all senses of the word.
Clifford Elk from Peermont briefing Monica and Robin before
the meeting with parents on Saturday 1 October 2011
Robin Hogarth, the producer and initiator of the project proved to be more than just a musical asset - his height was a huge help in getting us through airport traffic and control. The Green T-shirts were also an inspired idea; no one was lost! We immediately adopted the slogan on the sign behind us - "Green is Good".
Sarah sacrificing a Sunday morning lie-in to see us off.
The eight and a half hour flight to Mumbai was pleasant and uneventful. Everyone settled quickly and immediately turned on the televisions to follow the flight path and check out the available movies.
Mumbai airport was a bit of a "challenge". It was immensely busy and we seemed to be sent from pillar to post. Once through customs (which felt like several times) we had to rush to a coach which took us about 20km round and back to the same runway to take the domestic flight to New Delhi. (the planes use the same runways, but the check-in counters are in different buildings)
Delhi airport is immense. It is beautifully clean, carpeted and the people are extremely helpful and friendly. As we arrived at 4:30am it was fairly quiet, but by the time we left it was filling up very quickly.
We were met by Jitendra Guha and Monica Singh who gave us the traditional Indian welcome which included a very sweet snack and the garland and Monica doing Tilak (putting a red smudge on our foreheads and pasting a little type of seed)
Just a quick note to say 'hi' to 'team PSSP' and to wish you all well - your trip sounds so amazing thus far, the places you have visited, the people you are meeting, and that I am sure all of your eyes are being opened just a little to conditions elsewhere and you are observing just how industrious the entire 'Indian nation' is. Please observe carefully and bring some lessons and good ideas home with you - rehearse well!
ReplyDeleteHI, to you all in India, How is the atmosphere there in India? when are you coming back? We can't wait to meet you again guyz. Send me something special from there.Namaaste.
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