West African music taught by a white (British) man

[thehighsandthelows]

Traditional West African drumming taught to some children. I was surprised to see a white man show up. Maybe naively I expected someone West African. Research shows mainly white, British employees. Some African performers featured. A lot of praise for traditional African music and reference to the training they have received in West Africa. It doesn't sit right with me but can't find similar opinions voiced? No one else seemed remotely surprised?! Lots of praise for them and positivity. Bookings for celebrating black history months! With no one black in the photos!! Grateful for any views.

To paraphrase:

"A white woman has arrived with opinions to tell us what we're doing wrong!"

It seems white posters think they are ok to gaslight and whitesplain to shut black posters down when we challenge their views on society as no information we give them us ever enough.

I’m not trying to whitesplain. I’m just being realistic about the state of music teaching uk schools. It’s shit. If it’s on the list of priorities at all it’s usually at the bottom . Schools that do invest in getting in peripatetic teachers, get who they can, not who would be the most appropriate. That’s not whitesplaining it’s the state of music education that has been devalued and defunded over many years. Black kids being taught drumming from an African country should have the role model and expertise of a black drumming teacher. Chances of being able to secure the services of such a teacher, or any teacher at all, is a real challenge.

@FurryBandito

It seems white posters think they are ok to gaslight and whitesplain to shut black posters down when we challenge their views on society as no information we give them us ever enough.

I’m not trying to whitesplain. I’m just being realistic about the state of music teaching uk schools. It’s shit. If it’s on the list of priorities at all it’s usually at the bottom . Schools that do invest in getting in peripatetic teachers, get who they can, not who would be the most appropriate. That’s not whitesplaining it’s the state of music education that has been devalued and defunded over many years. Black kids being taught drumming from an African country should have the role model and expertise of a black drumming teacher. Chances of being able to secure the services of such a teacher, or any teacher at all, is a real challenge.

That doesn't mean it isn't problematic and shouldn't be discussed , pointed out and analysed as some posters are trying to imply.

I understand it’s problematic IdontWanna. And it needs to be discussed. It’s just in this situation the problem could well be mainly to be do with the music service being driven into the ground by this government rather than not trying to get the most appropriate teacher. I think if they can’t get a teacher of the relevant heritage and expertise they’d be better perhaps offering something like ukulele classes which has no issues around the heritage of the teacher and can be adapted to many styles of music.

@FurryBandito I think you are being very racist. He may be a very good musician. What does the colour of his skin have to do with his ability?

Sorry @FurryBandito I was trying to respond to the other poster.
I wish mumsnet had a delete button.

[quote CayrolBaaaskin]@thehighsandthelows I think it’s important to challenge racism if possible where I see it. If no one does it won’t ever be addressed. I’m sorry if you think I’m not “welcome” because I don’t agree with you but this is a public message board and I have every right to post. If it makes you uncomfortable perhaps you should consider if it’s because I have a point.

I am glad that the teacher has confidence to teach what (according to your earlier posts) he was qualified to teach. It’s great too that people didn’t react negatively to him because of the colour of his skin.

Many black people in London don’t have cultural ties to west Africa any more than white people. Skin colour doesn’t say if you are knowledgeable about west African drumming or not. I hope you will rethink your attitude towards this man.[/quote]
I agree, and see no reason why your posts have been met with such hostile reactions. It's not you who needs to "Get over yourself", it's more the case that some people just want to shut anyone down who disagrees with them.

OP, I think you're right about the confidence needed to teach, and I think it's true that white men are more likely than black women to have that confidence. I am not confident in RL, and I envy anyone with that sort of confidence, however it would not make me resentful towards them, because I know that my lack of confidence is my problem, not theirs.

@Redwingboots Like clockwork - it's so predictable

@thehighsandthelows

Yeah *@DeeCeeCherry* that's exactly what it was. I think what bothered me is all the 'authentic west African' references with absolutely no mention of the fact that he was clearly white and British!! The arrogance that it was his place to deliver the class and us all accept it - & everyone did! I was looking for reactions but saw none apart from 'isn't this great'

Did you say something?

In those situations I can never help myself. You only live once...... ;p

I'm a black Jamaican woman.

After reading this thread, I think I am going to start up a class teaching young white boys how to be adult white men.

I actually think I will be doing the world a good service. (I'm bored with teaching the 'authentic' river dance anyhow, this is the obvious next step)

@Jamdown123 shame as I was going to rope you in to help me teach my authentic English dancing aka Morris Dancing classes.

I've seen very good Eastern European examples of similar styles of dance plus I have colleagues, former and current, who should be able to link us to a teacher.

When we advertise the classes due to there being similarities to the different dance styles and clothing it will be fine to advertise it as "Morris Dance".

I will make sure I throw loads of "traditional" and "authentic" into the blurb it as well after all I was born and brought up in London and the SE.

@Jamdown123 if you are able bodied, perhaps you could add Disability awareness training to your portfolio? Our HCPs have specialist training delivered by a range of organisations expert in their Disability field but I expect someone who is able bodied could pick the gist with a bit of confidence to style it out or just guess if asked about something they'd not thought about before. I expect many would be certain we shouldn't discriminate against the able bodied.

Yes yes, thank yo for the support, it makes me feel so special, which is what this is all about. Me.

I've been slipping bits of bogle into my tap dancing, sorry, River Dance, because that's what resonates with my actual cultural upbringing, and I think it's fine because these kids I'm teaching no nothing different anyway. It's all about the ca-ching, sorry, connecting cultures and showing we are all just global people. I LOVE the look of surprise on people's faces when I step out in my green pixie outfit (it's close enough, these kids know no different). Plus, I can't help it if here in Belgravia there aren't many Irish with the get up and go to do this stuff themselves. SOMEONE'S GOTTA. That person is me. Plus I've been to Dublin. For a weekend. It was great craik. I'm Irish inside, I love those people.

Hi op

I find it strange. But not unusual.

A lot of our cultural heritage has been rebranded. I sometimes feel that they take the good bits..

But, I will wait to be told I am wrong for thinking that.

Having grown up in SA, I am not wrong...

Why is there a black mumsnetters section if white people come in to give their unwanted 2 pence?

@Easymeasy because some white people have poor reading comprehension skills, don't understand their white privilege or both.