18
February
2016
Type
Grantee insights
Area of funding
Humanitarian Innovation
Focus areas
Scale
No items found.
Year
Image from Panzi and Make Music Matter. Supporting GBV victims

It has been approximately four months since I last visited our music therapy program implemented alongside partners Panzi Foundation at their aftercare facility, Maison Dorcas, in the Democratic Republic of the Congo (DRC). On my first day back I immediately noticed a distinct change; as our beneficiaries filed into our recording studio, I observed they had all brought notepads with them containing lyrical, melodic and thematic ideas for songs - in the past, beneficiaries would often arrive empty handed, dependent on the guidance and creative prompting of our staff.

;

;

In rehearsal

Along with their prepared ideas, they had mapped out which member should sing which part, behaving like a passionate and engaged band, tending deeply to their art and final product. The song they were working on was called “The Criminal Father.” It denounces the abusive, misogynistic, repressive (sometimes perpetrators) and unproductive men in their communities. It is a clever and sophisticated homage of defiance, dedicated to youth who have had negative experiences with irresponsible fathers or other authority figures, and advocates for more mature women in regards to their husbands.

“Our father, you caused us so much suffering,
If you get money you spend it on our own matters and now we live like orphans.”


Even more incredible is that it was one of the survivors who came up with the concept for the song and genesis of the lyrics. I can attest that in watching these women sing and record this piece with such strength, vigor and pride, was amazing. This song symbolises the life-changing power one has over re-framing their past, while carving out a new identity, one song and joyful voice at a time.

Stay updated

Sign up for our newsletter to receive regular updates on resources, news, and insights like this. Don’t miss out on important information that can help you stay informed and engaged.

Related articles

all latest news
Image placeholder
Elrha insights
Innovating for Impact: Tackling the sanitation crisis in humanitarian settings
Image placeholder
Grantee insights
The partnership of the MSQ project
Image placeholder
Grantee insights
Language‚ power and aid effectiveness - Journey to Scale

Related projects

explore more projects
No items found.

Explore Elrha

Learn more about our mission, the organisations we support, and the resources we provide to drive research and innovation in humanitarian response.

No items found.