Monthly Archive for October, 2010

“We all have a disability of some kind; all are lacking in one way or another… I haven’t met anyone yet who isn’t handicapped in some way. So what’s the big deal? Don’t hide your deformity. Wear it like a Purple Heart.” ~ Georgiann Baldino

Welcome to the Democratic Republic of the Congo, one of the most dangerous and conflict plagued countries in the world.  It holds the second lowest per capita GDP, making it the second poorest country of the planet.  Not to mention a long history of brutal violence (especially on women and children) and civil war.  In fact the Second Congo War which began in 1998 is the world’s deadliest since WWII, with over 5.4 million dead.  The statistics are horrifying and the list goes on and on.  But I don’t bring up the DRC’s brutal history to plummet your spirit into despair.  On the contrary, what follows is a story of incredible triumph over impossible adversity, where the improbable background of the Congo serves as a lesson that hope and redemption survive even the harshest climates.

The year is 2003, and under a giant banyan tree in the decrepit zoo on the outskirts of Kinshasa, a ragtag band of disabled, and largely homeless, musicians assemble for rehearsal.  Kinshasa is the capital of the DRC, a city approaching well over 11 million and swelling everyday with refugees.  It is a city where everyman must fend for himself, where thousands of orphan children scavenge for food, and where the disabled or physically deformed are outcast as untouchables.  Yet here, on a balmy night, five wheelchair bound paraplegics all afflicted with polio roll their customized, scrap-salvaged tricycles an an impromptu circle and pick up their largely homemade instruments.

When they have no money for gas to power their wheelchairs (which is almost always), street children would join the musical caravan, pushing the musicians to practice.  And so a large fanclub builds around this handicap band, formed from the pariah ranks of Kinshasa society, a fanclub formed exclusively on the streets where this band performs; combining the rhythms of traditional Congolese rhumba, with American blues, Afro-Carribean reggae and James Brown funk.

A year later, a crew of French documentary filmmakers stumbled upon the unlikely street orchestra amidst a huddle of shege, the omnipresent and much-feared street children.  But instead of sniffing glue and robbing passersby, these kids were dancing and singing and laughing.  For a moment the music transformed them, back into happy kids again.  As Florent de La Tullaye (one of the filmmakers who discovered Benda Bilili) describes it: “We were a bit overwhelmed to see this group of disabled guys playing music with homeless kids all around.  But musically, we were thunderstruck.”

(video is credited to record label CrammedDiscs and SPINEarth)

Indeed, this is not explicitly the tale of two foreigners moved by the sentimentality of a special moment and resultantly motivated to make a difference in these mens lives.  This is the fairytale come true of undeniable talent rising to the surface from unbelievable depths to create a music that transcends culture.  Certainly the french filmmakers — who spent the next 5 years documenting the brutal lives of these incredible musicians to create the feature documentary that premiered this year at the Cannes International Film Festival, to huge acclaim — have played a huge roll in exposing Staff Benda Bilili’s music to a global audience.  But the music and the messages woven within speak for themselves.

Disability is a matter of perception. If you can do just one thing well, you’re needed by someone.  -Martina Navratilova

In Lingala, Benda Bilili translates as “Look beyond appearances”, and 55 year old band leader, Leon “Papa Ricky” Likabu describes his group as “Street Journalists” — who bear witness to the daily struggle of those who sleep under the stars, like them.  Often their lyrics offer wisdom tinged with humor, or encourage empathy to those struck down by poverty and disability.

Few people in Kinshasa believed a band of untouchables could make it anywhere other than the gutter.  But in the last 18 months, the band has released an album with a Belgian record label and toured major music festivals around the world, sharing billing with the likes of Kanye West.   One of their biggest draws is teen prodigy and former shege, Roger Landu, who learned to create astounding melodies on a one string guitar called the “satonge”, which Roger invented from an empty jam jar and a piece of wire.

“People never believed that we would succeed,” says Leon Likabu.  ”But I see beyond appearances.  I always believed.  And now we have a chance to show the world what we are capable of.”

To me, nothing is as powerful as music to uplift and transform.  What began as a crew of crippled outcasts, gathering together to share a passion and lift their collective spirits, has become the triumphant rise of world-class musicians, spreading their love and sharing their  inspiring music with the whole world.  What an astounding reminder of the miracles that are possible when you find and follow your bliss, no matter what obstacles stand in your way or under your feet.