“Artist for peace” |
| Posted: 09 Aug 2010 12:58 AM PDT Artist for peace "So I say thank you for the music, the songs I'm singing. Thanks for all the joy they're bringing. Who can live without it, I ask in all honesty. What would life be, without a song or a dance, what are we? So I say, thank you for the music, for giving it to me." These lines from a popular song describe how music across times and places has inspired and cheered people of different races. In a nutshell, music is a universal language. Since time immemorial, Filipinos patronize foreign music: Spanish, American, Taiwanese, and recently, Korean songs. Today, the spotlight has finally and deservingly shed its focus on a local artist from the southern Mindanao. A gem talent, Datu Khomeini Camsa Bansuan, 28, from the hometown of Isulan, Sultan Kudarat is a golden voice that cannot be ignored. For him, music is the soul of man. "The more music in your heart, the more love you have because there is soul inside." Particularly, Moro music for Khomeini is the evolution of the ways Moro people want to express themselves: from "message-less" lullabies, to warrior's expressions of inspiration, to love and invocation of the coming of peacetime. Today it has transformed to a more lyrical love stories, an OFW's motivation, and music with social message. It is not just in political arena that people must be in unity. In the music industry Khomeini is grateful that a Moro artist like him made large break beyond his turf. His songs especially "Galugod"—a modified Maguindanaon version of the 1970s hit song "Sometimes When We Touch"—has been playing on various radio stations in the country. Khomeini traces his gift for singing, "We all can carry a note. Maybe I acquired such good singing voice from my mother." He began by singing in small town concerts, weddings, and political rallies. "When we produced my own recordings in CDs and DVDs we were surprised that in few weeks, my songs were heard everywhere. My friends relayed that they hear my songs played in jeepneys, buses, in iPods, and cell phones. Lately, people of all ages would memorize and sing at least one of my songs. We are now trying to mass produce the CDs and DVDS of my concerts and compile them in an album. I also received invitations to perform in abroad particularly Dubai and Kuwait," he shares. He added that his Computer Science degree from Notre Dame University helped in his studio recording. Moreover, to be able to shine, an artist has to have his unique identity. Khomeini pointed that his songs are expressions not only of his self but that of his roots. "I try to put myself in the shoes of the whole Moro community and try to sing with their voices. The best label I think is that I am the one who has the heart and voice of the Moro. I am flattered by the good feedbacks in the Internet from people in the Philippines, Dubai, Hong Kong, Saudi Arabia, and Kuwait." Further, his goal as an artist is to be part of the efforts to humanize the perception of the whole country about Moros in Mindanao. He aspires that Mindanao be appreciated as a beautiful place and that is because of the Moros who value their culture, arts, and crafts. Khomeini reflected that a Moro is the one who struggles for years to regain his glorious name that has been scorched by the flawed and biased writing of history and media's twisted angle. A Moro has confidence and solid admiration of his forefathers who never succumbed to the colonizers. A Moro, he said, is self made and has a strong sense of self security. Even if his help is not solicited he has the convictions that he can he can do something for others and even risk himself. He has the heart so enduring and endearing. But his is also a personality full of mystery and enigma to a non-Moro. Being named after a great leader, Ayatollah Khomeini of Iran who pulled off one of the most daring revolutions in history, he envisions economic well-being and good governance for the Bangsamoro. "If I were a leader with economic power ready at hand, I want to create a master plan wherein Moro grassroots members cooperate. There will be no Maguindanaon, Tausug or Maranao but a Moro bloc. Moroland is replete with resources which could be harnessed to become a superregion in the country." He leaves his door open to a political tread for it is a mechanism wherein, he said, one can achieve his goals and realize his visions. But he pointed that politics is a curse for the ill-willed while it is a blessing for the noble. He expressed his concern over the armed conflict that is causing a growing number of internally displaced persons who are locally known as bakwits. "I've visited on the one of the evacuation centers and I was depressed with what I saw. In this age of civilization, no one deserves to be in such situation. I want the government to be serious in peacemaking efforts. It is a shame on us that we get fund from foreign countries like Malaysia, US, Norway, and Great Britain to solve our own problems yet they are diverged to personal enrichment of a few. Peace education must not only be for the Moros but more so for the fellow non-Muslim Filipinos." However, assessing his current means, Khomeini capitalizes on music as a potential means of peacemaking. He noted that music is a potent tool to campaign for culture of peace, tolerance, and harmonious coexistence. Music awakes certain feelings. It has a soundtrack for every emotion. For instance, an OFW commented in Khomeini's online music video that when she heard and watched him, she felt nostalgic and as if she was in her province. Consequently, the best compliment Khomeini receives is when people say they become proud of themselves because of him. Because of this common public impact, he was given the title "King of Moro Songs" which he stands by. With this, he dreams of invading mainstream music industry. "My dream is not all personal. How I imagine the delight of a Moro seeing another Moro climb the ladder of success. I think the most concrete step to that peak is getting media mileage from various media outlets in TV, radio, and print. Hopefully, a big established recording company will venture on it." He brings along in his high hopes the emerging Moro band groups in Maguindanao and Lanao. His piece of advice to them is to be persistent sing with a heart. Five Filters featured article: "Peace Envoy" Blair Gets an Easy Ride in the Independent. Available tools: PDF Newspaper, Full Text RSS, Term Extraction. |
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