No matter what age you are, it’s always important to keep your eyes and ears open for opportunities to learn something new about the world and the diverse groups of people within it. There are so many cultures to learn about, so many unfamiliar languages to translate and new ways of living just waiting to be explored. When it comes to our residents, we think one of the best ways to give them the opportunity to learn about another culture is through a language everyone can understand: music.
This musical exploration was brought to life when Master Percussionist Samuel Bakkabulindi visited the Kathleen Daniel Nursing and Rehab Center in Framingham, MA, to present a special program affectionately titled, “Musical Safari.” Originally from Uganda, Samuel is an Artist-in-Residence at Middlebury College in Vermont and uses his experiences visiting more than 40 countries to influence his work. As a part of the program, he brought five instruments distinct to Uganda, all of which he learned to play at a very early age. Samuel helped explain the cultural significance of each instrument, teaching the residents how to play and encouraging them to participate.
Samuel’s visit introduced our residents to a type of music many had never heard before while giving them the opportunity to learn more about a culture they weren’t familiar with. All of the colorful tapestries, wooden adornments, and leather decorations strewn about the room provided a small glimpse into what Samuel’s Ugandan culture is like. It was a unique experience for everyone, and a great way for residents to socialize and attempt to master the Entenga Royal Count Drums, Endungu Harp, Embuutu-Big Drum, as well as many others. This is all part of the vision for Kathleen Daniel’s Activities Director, Vashti Nandlal, who believes that integrating a cultural experience, especially one that includes music, is a wonderful way to get residents involved.
Vashti hails from the Caribbean islands of Trinidad and Tobago. When she first arrived at Kathleen Daniel Care Center, the residents were excited to learn about the traditions, forms of worship, music and other cultural differences between the countries. “Like Samuel, I am also from a different culture, and the residents were incredibly enthusiastic to find out about where I came from when I first arrived. People who haven’t had the opportunity to travel and see the many different aspects of our world get very excited to learn about someone new who comes in.”
Vashti plans to continue hosting special activities highlighting various cultures around the world. This month she is hoping to host a “World Traveler” day celebrating Chinese food, music, and culture for the Chinese New Year. “Every person loves music, no matter how old, no matter what kind,” Vashti said. “Our residents don’t always have as many chances to go out into the world to find new things to learn about, so we find people to bring things in.”
We know how important it is to branch out, meet new people, and develop a respect for the many distinctions of a different culture, which is why the “Musical Safari” was such a special program for our residents to participate in. There are many people in the world with vastly different lives and traditions, and we are proud of our residents and staff for embracing one of our Core Values: respect. They welcomed a new guest with open arms and took the opportunity to be open-minded and respectful while learning more about Uganda, Samuel, and his unique culture.
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