Somi, an Urbana-Champaign native, performed in the Colwell Playhouse at KCPA on February 14, 2020. Her jazz performance sent a prominent message about being present and told a story of the diverse, culture-rich Harlem.
Written By Zackarya Faci
From the moment Somi stepped on stage there was nothing but positive vibes in the air. She prefaced the performance with a little background about herself; she would even ask the audience questions and build off that engagement. One could easily tell she was being genuine and sincere as her bright smile and cheerful laugh filled the performance hall. Somi is of Ugandan and Rwandan decent and grew up in Champaign, but she has since moved to New York. The songs she performed were from her latest album “Petite Afrique” (meaning little Africa in French), which pertains to the microcosm that is Harlem.
Harlem has a prominent West African and Muslim community. Somi made it clear that while she may not be those things, she can still embody those things in a less literal sense. Her music showed this as she would sing in French or reference key aspects of the Islamic faith.
As a Muslim, I was shocked yet pleased to hear these references, especially since things can get heated very quickly when it comes to religion. It was a breathe of fresh air to see Somi bringing attention to and respecting the Islamic culture–enhancing the beauty of what many Muslims see already. I was not expecting her to care so much about a culture that is not hers; but again, this only emphasizes her point about the importance of being present in a community and being able to absorb the ambient culture. In particular, Somi mentioned “counting the days ’til Ramadan is over” in her song Like Dakar and “Allahu Akbar” in her song Holy Room. These two were undoubtedly my favorite songs: not only for the Islamic references but for the attitude of the songs as well. They both consisted of a slow, somber melody that would crescendo into a moment that fills your body with goosebumps. It was almost too easy to feel the emotions of Somi and her musicians as they moved through a piece.
It was also interesting to note the interaction between the musicians and Somi. As a song would come to a close, she would let one of the musicians–the drummer, bassist, pianist, or cellist–perform a solo. I cannot help but to think they were improvising and playing from the heart as they performed their solo. It was inspiring to see their self-expression through their music and the passion they had–whether they were performing a solo or playing with the rest of the group.
Patrons entering the theater moments before the performance began
Somi’s ability to blend together different themes, cultures, and emotions truly made this a spectacular performance: sending a message while keeping the audience engaged and entertained. Every moment felt perfectly planned, yet fully improvised, all at the same time. This passionate performance was a great way to end Valentine’s Day this year.