A kuduro video clip on the value of artisans in Angola
Compared to other more academic occupations, artisans receive relatively little appreciation in Angolan society. However, their work is of crucial importance for a country where labour can contribute largely to the development of sectors such as construction and agriculture.. Society should appreciate this manual labour much more.
Speaking of the value attached to craftsmanship also requires talking about the attitude at work. Only those workers – women and men – who are motivated and prepared to invest energy in their everyday work as they tackle their tasks, who make an effort not just for themselves but also for their families - they are the ones who will contribute to the development of an entire society in the long run. These men and women workers must receive the appreciation they deserve.
Why is FormPRO interested in this topic? FormPRO’s aim is to improve vocational training in the civil construction sector, with a focus on masons and electricians. However, FormPRO does not only seek to improve the quality and relevance of vocational training. Italso seeks toraise the value attached to craftsmanship in general in order to attract more young people who – in this case – might chose to become masons or electricians.
With this in mind, FormPRO has worked together with CENFOC (Centro de Formação Profissional de Construção Civil, a vocational training centre for the construction sector in Viana) and the kudurista group “Os K.Baila” to develop a kuduro video clip that deals specifically with masonry as an occupation. The lyrics were composed by the singer of the group who participated in the preparatory sessions where the idea and the actualisation of the video were discussed.
The idea of putting together a kuduro came up because something like this reaches many young people in an entertaining way and in their own language. Kuduro is a genuinely Angolan music genre and has its roots in the informal settlements of Luanda. Over the last years kuduro has achieved wider acceptance in Angolan society. There are several specialised kuduro TV and radio shows and the video clips are screened in discos and bars. Live performances attract major audiences. All in all, kuduro is now much more valued by Angolan society – just as craftsmanship should be appreciated more. This is why kuduro seemed the ideal musical genre to convey our message and achieve our objectives.
We plan to screen the video in bars and clubs just like the clips of any other musical group. We hope that young people will like to dance to it, sing along and – in repeating its lyrics they may get to understand and spread the message that a positive attitude towards work is important and that craftspeople should be respected and valued. Obviously, the video clip will also be shown at vocational training centres.
It is important to highlight the role of CENFOC. The vocational training centre was established in 2008 and offers a variety of short and long courses for the construction sector. Overall, CENFOC’s director and training staff are very active in terms of the kind of training they provide. They want to create a space where the trainees enjoy learning and working, where the trainees know their needs will always be respected and where they are offered modern training courses - modern with regard to their technical and technological content but also with respect to their social dimension. CENFOC has already participated in many of FormPRO’s activities such as the development of this kuduro video clip.
A Kuduro – what it is and where it comes from?
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Additional information regarding the video clip:
The members of the group “Os K.Baila” are:
- PAI SHOW (Rafael Dionisio Manuel Neto): Singer (lyrics)
- DENYFOX (Jaime Daniel Mateus)
- PAULO BONG (Paulo Feliciano Filémon)
- MORENO (Jefterson Lukeny)
- EIDJY (Edimilson Dionisio
The DJ responsible for the music is DJ SKILL. All recordings took place in the “Fofo Cho Produções” studio in September 2011.
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The lyrics of the song summarize the aspects described above:
The mason
Strong working man, rise early
Face the day without fear
Mason – put your hands to work
With your callus and your sweat you build infra-structures.
Mason, don’t put yourself down – show everyone that you’re up to scratch.
Doctor or welder, carpenter or mason –
Push aside the hierarchy; we are all human beings and fighters!
At dawn I see a light, the mason follows his path.
Every single day giving it all to feed his children.
You rise at the crack of dawn
And work until sunset.
A helmet on your head, gloves and hammer in your hand – such are the builder’s tools
To get it done, dear brother, listen to this:
Value this work, honour this occupation.
Refrain:
I, you, he, we, you all – are equal to you, uncle mason! He, she and we all – are equal to you, uncle mason
