Friday night was the Australian premier of Staff Benda Bilili at the Perth Festival Gardens. The blurb suggested it would be a night of life affirming music, of Congolese rumba blended with 70s funk, Cuban son and mambo, from the streets of Kinshasa. Their love of life was clearly on display in Perth.
The band is made up of Congolese paraplegic street musicians and street kids from around the Kinshasa Zoo. Whether you like their music or not, you’ve got to admire their love of life. They certainly don’t let crutches or wheelchairs get in way a good bop. In fact if you’re having a bad day just click on one of these clips link 1 link 2 and it’ll help put your troubles into perspective. The clips also show how a tin can, some wire and a good dollop of ingenuity can led to a weird looking instrument and whole new sound.
I was lucky enough to spot the group at Cottesloe Beach the day before their concert, where they were checking out Sculptures by the Sea.
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Staff Benda Bilili © The Ponder Room
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Staff Benda Bilili © The Ponder Room
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Staff Benda Bilili © The Ponder Room
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Watching them laughing and loving the day made me ponder…..
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What would they think of our strange little isolated city where it appears we dump our artworks on the sand?
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Would they think we’re such an amazingly creative bunch that, even the rubbish we leave behind at the end of a family beach picnic (like a rusty old Holden panelvan), is worthy of being deemed … art? Okay maybe not all of it.
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Hopefully they thought their street music would fit perfectly with our outdoor street gallery lifestyle.
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Hopefully they didn’t look behind them or they may have panicked about what’s lurking in our oceans.
6 Comments
Ha ha, I love pondering point 1, perhaps some visitors really do think that this is our art gallery!!! I have to get down there this week (it goes until the weekend right?).
If our outdoor art is this good, imagine what they think we have tucked away inside. It think it ends on th 18th but not sure. Best to go on a weekday when there’s less people, easier parking although there is a free shuttle bus
Your ponder point 1 inspired my blog post today!
http://www.notaballerina.com/2012/03/perth-city-which-installs-its-art.html
thank you 🙂
(this is not a marketing trick, but you have to read through to the end to see what you inspired!)
I think I’m having a ‘full circle moment’ where the student inspires the teacher??? 🙂
good one!!! great thought of kindness but now your dear one never be dependent for others give them a Electric Wheelchairs for more details please visit smart scooters UK
glad you enjoyed the piece. Thanks for commenting. Merry Christmas