Hannah Swarray, a Sierra Leonean musician (Ethnomusicologist) based in Toronto, Canada, has on Wednesday February 10, 2021 encouraged musicians that, hard work, commitment, unrelenting and constant practice could make one a successful musician.
She explained that while addressing the staff and students of the Ballanta Academy of Music and the Performing Arts, personnel of the Republic of Sierra Leone Armed Forces and music lovers at the academy auditorium.
Swarray stressed that music could transcend tradition, makes one’s culture be known across the world and changes lives of people who do it.
She disclosed that she has acquired a Bachelor in music degree in Jazz Vocal performance in 2002 in Canada, Master in ethnomusicology in 2018, and now pursuing a PhD in music in Canada. She noted that her hard work and continuous practicing were the reasons behind her success.
She encouraged Africans mostly the Sierra Leonean musicians to adopt the Sierra Leonean ways of doing music, learn the traditional musical instruments so that their culture and heritage would be showed to the world.
“I have also seen that African parents are not encouraging their children to show their talents in music. Parents always think that music is just for entertainment forgetting that it is no more a hobby,” she said.
Swarray said that she started a journey as musician at a young age when she was in primary school in Sierra Leone, adding that she used to sing in the school choir and Music Band as well.
She said that she was doing science in school. “I was a science student in school, but later I realized that I have talent in music, I then have to leave my study as science then embarked on my musical career. My parents were not happy with me when I told them that music was what I had decided to do. But I tried hard and proved myself as potential. Now they are both appreciating me. Music is something that we can be taken seriously because it can enhance our lives.”
She added that music could create job opportunity, build self-confidence, enhance creativity and many others.
Swarray recognised staff and members of the Ballanta for sustaining music in Sierra Leone and Africa.
By Ibrahim S.Bangura
17/02/2021. ISSUE NO: 8004