Hi friends!!
Just before the start of the pandemic, I wrote a song with refugees from Burundi, Senegal, and Afghanistan. I was living in Brussels, Belgium at the time and volunteering at the Fedasil Arrival Centre, which is the first port of call for migrants seeking asylum in Belgium. Together with poet and writer Sarah Reader Harris, we offered weekly poetry and songwriting sessions for residents at the center.
The song "Open the Borders" began with words in Swahili from a refugee called Buddy, who was originally from Burundi.
He wrote the words that became the chorus of the song:
Hakuna Matata
Tushikané Mikono
Tutafika Salama
Nabila Silah
These words we translated into English:
Don't worry
Place your hand in mine
We will arrive safely
Without violence, we will arrive
The song communicates the idea that all people, like birds who fly, should be free to move anywhere in the world in search of a safe, happy life.
You can learn more about the writing of this song by visiting my website: https://guidingsong.com/open-the-borders/
Here is a video so you can have a listen!