Sing, Dance, Inspire
Female a cappella group shares insight on issues such as peace, race, activism through their powerful song and dance
Posted on January 22, 2008
The seats in Wilson Hall filled quickly Friday night as friends, neighbors, students and professors came together to experience the internationally renowned sound of “Sweet Honey in the Rock.” It became clear, however, as the lights dimmed and the six black women took to the stage that the audience would experience much more than sound. Even the children sat enthralled as the sextet sang their first: “Hush, hush, somebody’s calling my name.”
“Sweet Honey in the Rock” is composed of Ysaye M. Barnwell, Nitanju Bolade Casel, Aisha Kahlil, Carol Maillard, Louise Robinson and Shirley Childress Saxton. These women are more than accomplished vocalists; they challenged the audience with their poetry, spirit and intensity. Saxton accompanied each song with sign language that was music in itself. The women combined their dance and percussion talents to express their ideas of kindness, community, racism, death, peace and political activism.
The sextet paused after the second song to introduce their most recent and Grammy-nominated CD, Experience 101. The album was created in hopes of teaching youth as they grow up. The first song they sang from this CD instructs youth to “sing, stand, march, do, write, read, learn, teach, preach and dance.” Their repeated call to “vote, do you hear me, vote” brought forth a loud cheer from the audience proving that although the album is aimed at children, it reminds adults of what is important.
The group sang about many diverse issues, which audience members could relate to. Sophomore Aisha Alami was touched by the group’s words.
“I know I’m young, but I have responsibilities,” she said. “Those lyrics really spoke to me because they made me think of my responsibilities to my boyfriend and my family.”
While the members of “Sweet Honey in the Rock” write the majority of their music, they also honor past artists. They created a powerful song by putting the words of the Langston Hughes poem “Freedom Never Dies” to music, letting the audience know how important it is to remember the songs of the past. You could almost hear Bob Marley singing along as the crowd joined voices with “Sweet Honey in the Rock” in “Redemption Song.”
At the end of the evening the group sang a song written by their founder, Bernice Johnson Reagon. The lyrics say, “We who believe in freedom cannot rest until it comes.” The audience sang this line emphasizing not to forget that “somebody’s hungry, somebody’s homeless, and somebody needs a hand.” Through their soulful harmonies “Sweet Honey in the Rock” inspired the audience with their sound and message.
For more information go to sweethoney.com.
