Interview with Director Natalie Cooper,

Author Interview

Interview with David Kwaw Mensah

Musician and illustrator Natalie Cooper’s seminal ‘African Musical Instruments’ catalogues the sounds of the Mother Land with a colourful array of depictions, facts and historical anecdotes. The books drawings of instruments are both bold and imaginative, while it presents us with facts which are sometimes surprising and at other times insightful (who knew that flute originated in Chad or that the harp was invented in ancient Egypt).

I recently spoke to Natalie about what her voice would sound like if it were a musical instrument, the kind of person her book would be if it was human, about the idea of visualizing sounds and about how it feels to be a super hero, amongst other things. Read on.

Source: http://shortsightedblog.blogspot.co.uk/2016/11/conversations-in-space-natalie-copper.html

About Short Sighted:
David Kwaw Mensah is a multi-talented artist, poet and photographer.
http://shortsightedblog.blogspot.co.uk

Interview with Isossy Children

What inspired you to start your business?
I was at a black history event in 2010 where I met a gentleman, formerly involved in the music business who was looking for a graphic designer to produce some children’s books; an African musical instruments book and an African patterns colouring book.
This become my own personal project completing the books in two months, all of the research, writing and illustration and I got them printed soon after. I tried to get my book into bookshops and libraries but without the know-how it was difficult so I jumped at the opportunity to trade at stalls when I was invited.
Since my first stall in March 2012, the business has grown and grown and I have plenty of fair-trade African made instruments available also. I am looking now to do workshops with schools as that would unite my main three interests: the arts, history/ culture and education.

What have been your favourite client experiences?
I love talking to people at my stalls, they cannot believe I am so young and have achieved so much already, I am always feeling humbled.Speaking to the public, I’m in contact with people from all walks of life who are happy to share their thoughts, suggestions and opinions, which are welcome as I do not have all knowledge of all things, it’s just not possible.
I get to speak to many parents and teachers who would love to have me come and visit their schools. Everyone is so kind and encouraging and it keeps me going! People also love my long natural hair, we find anything to talk about!

What advice would you give to someone starting up in your industry?
I started my business blind, I approached as a graphic designer which no knowledge of musical instruments, publishing, distribution, marketing, sales but I knew it

was going to be a learning process so I was never overwhelmed by my own ignorance. I always worked to my own watch and deadlines but the style of work I have leads to burning out fast.

Trying to do everything yourself is fine but don’t be afraid to ask for help. If you don’t agree with or like what someone says, take note of it, do some research, discuss with others.
It’s not going to be easy in any way, shape or form. You need to be stubborn with it (which I am so) but you also need to know when to take a break.
You have to have a product you believe in but don’t expect it to sell itself for you – get people’s opinions and use these points in your sales pitch!
If you want to self publish – know what you’re getting yourself into, it’s a lot of work. I didn’t know, but I like the control and I’m open to other possibilities in the future.
Be careful with relationships, overwork can put pressure on relationships with a partner if you’re working all the time. Even if they support you one hundred percent, you need to know when to make time for them, yourself (very important) and your relationship.
Try to network (or just speak to people, family, friends) who have skills that you don’t have, even if they can’t help you on a specific project, they can at least point you in the right direction. I had someone who just liked my work and he gave me free advice, it was hard when I hadn’t really developed my online presence hearing how it wasn’t good enough (yet!) but constructive and free advice has changed my business for the best!
You can do as much as you can yourself but don’t be afraid to ask for help.
Don’t be too precious – what feels like your end product after the blood, sweat and tears, is just the prototype, there’s always room for improvement and this should be welcomed!

9. The internet is your friend – you can research anything you don’t know about!

What are your long term goals?
To be happy and inspire.

Isossy Children celebrates diversity through global clothing for children. Why do you think diversity matters for every generation?
In respect of my book and it’s aims, music is universal, and an aspect of every culture whether its use is purely entertainment or has a societal function, it can be used to tell stories, convey a message or feeling, critique and challenge.
Teaching children about music of other cultures can give an insight into the ethos of a people, their myths, legends and stories, past kingdoms, great feats, etc which fosters understanding and can generally just inspire. Exposing children to different cultures is vital in creating worldly and cultured individuals. There are a limited number of types of instruments e.g. wind, percussion etc so people can always identify and make connections with instruments they have in their own culture.
It is also interesting to learn about the origins and spread of familiar instruments to see more of what different cultures have in common. It’s world history and we are all citizens of the world.

What words of wisdom do you think every child should grow up knowing?
I take my eleven year old sister along with me to stalls sometimes and she gives me advice… I always say to her “there is no reason why you can’t do this”; I don’t know if she believes me but I hope I have shown her through action and getting her involved – she really enjoys it! With the world at your fingertips, things have become a lot more accessible now, you can build a free website, free promotional videos which you can post on video sharing sites, print your own literature.. the list goes on.

Source: http://isossychildren.blogspot.co.uk/2013/12/isossy-children-meets-natalie-cooper.html

About Isossy Children:
Isossy Children is a contemporary baby and child online clothing brand with African and Asian influences.
www.isossychildren.com

Interview with Kid World Citizen

What is your background and what do you do?
I am a graphic designer and illustrator from London, England of African-Caribbean descent. My mother's side is from St Lucia, and my father's, Jamaica with great grandparents from Barbados and Cuba. My parents were born in London, UK as was I, and my four siblings. I am the eldest, we are four girls and one boy, we are a close family. Music is always playing in the house!

How did you come about making the books?
I was at a black history event in 2010, the screening of '500 Years Later' where I met an Ethiopian gentleman, Samson Isaac, who was looking for a graphic designer to design some children's books; an African musical instruments colouring book (he was from the music industry and was the manager of Fela Kuti at one stage) and an African patterns colouring book. It took some time to start as I knew nothing on the subject. This developed into my own project when I understood I wasn't producing the book for him as such; he just felt there was a need for the books! I started by tracing some images of musicians playing and that didn't work too well so decided to have the instrument on its own but realised quickly it would need some sort of description as well as an introduction to the topic as a whole. Really it was a logical trial and improvement process.

Do you play an instrument? What is your favourite instrument?
The simple percussion is easy enough but I don't play any African instruments sadly, just guitar and bass, have played since I was 15/16, so about 8 years. My favourite African instrument is the Kora, second, Mbira. I love a good drum rhythm. I can't pick a single favourite instrument, nothing like a good ensemble where the sounds compliment eachother. A very good singer always moves me.

Of course it is important for children to be aware of their own cultures - what does this book mean for children of African descent?
This book is particularly important for African-born and African diaspora children (Africans, African-Caribbeans, African-Americans and African Latinos) to help understand and learn about their

own cultures and traditions to help form positive identity and self-image through knowledge of our rich ancient art forms and cultural tools. With a solid foundation and nurturing, children can achieve anything. In making this book, I have learnt a lot about the origins and cultural traditions behind the music i've always known and loved, which was very important to me as it filled in the gaps in my knowledge (and therefore identity) of the relationship between the Caribbean and Africa, which is vital to understand in an equally deeply musical culture. I have also challenged the idea that African cultures only have drums to offer in terms of music with a host of instruments of all kinds!

Why is it important for children to be aware of world cultures? How can it help them in the future?
It is important for anyone but particularly children to be aware of world cultures as it widens ones horizons and a lot of us live in multinational societies. It also gives us a chance to look in our own cosmopolitan cultures and learn about musical traditions we take for granted such as the fact that rock and roll originated in African American blues, country, jazz and gospel music in the 1950s and laid the foundations for pop music today.

How does listening to world music help kids to be more culturally-aware? How can teaching kids about music help them to understand other cultures?
Music is universal, and an aspect of every culture whether its use is purely entertainment or has a societal function, it can be used to tell stories, convey a message or feeling, critique and challenge. Teaching children about music of other cultures can give an insight into the ethos of a people, their myths, legends and stories, past kingdoms, great feats etc which fosters understanding and can generally just inspire. Exposing children to different cultures is vital in creating worldly and cultured individuals. There are a limited number of types of instruments e.g. wind, percussion etc so people can always identify and make connections with instruments they have in their own culture. It is also interesting to learn about the origins and spread of familiar instruments to see more of what different cultures have in common. It's world history and we are all citizens of the world.

Interview by Tallulah of Kid World Citizen

Music in African Culture

The Spread of African Music

Types of African Music

Singing and Dancing

Musical Regions

Glossary

Musical Instrument Types

21 Instruments