Songs from Life
Songs from Life is a new programme for African Caribbean elders, that focuses on providing music for reminiscence. The project has been created in partnership with Nubian Life.
Singer Juliet Kelly takes her audience through a variety of songs, exploring African and Caribbean cultural history through music and drawing on sentiments of older generations. Including classic songs from Jimmy Cliff, Bob Marley and more, such as My Boy Lollipop, Amazing Grace, I Can See Clearly, and Many Rivers to Cross.
The performance is approximately 45 minutes long, and intended to enable the audience to do exercise and participate in the songs in their own environment.
It is designed to provide a stimulating exploration of deep-rooted musical memory. Filmed with a brief spoken introduction to each track, the programme can be enjoyed in one session, or separated down into individual tracks.
Songs from Life has been created in partnership between Nubian Life and Serious. This programme is supported by funding from the Race Equality Council and Arts Council England. Nubian Life is a charity providing adult social care to African Caribbean elders, whilst Serious produces festivals and explores new ways of using music. This programme is supported by funding from the Race Equality Council and Arts Council England.
Serious and Nubian Life will be working together to take Songs From Life to the widest audience nationally.
Songs From Life launched in the EFG London Jazz Festival on Saturday 14 November 2020. After that, it was made available free to all carers and care homes across the UK.
Songs From Life is a therapeutic singing for the brain activity, aimed at people from African Caribbean communities; particularly those living with dementia.
In a time of social isolation and closure of day centres; due to COVID19; it is vital that older people are engaged in cognitive and stimulating activities. Songs From Life forms part of Nubian Life's Reminiscence in Action online platform.
Jazz Browne, CEO, Nubian Life
I am so pleased to have been invited to be a part of this important project. It has been very rewarding to create something that can include those within the African Caribbean communities with health conditions that affect memory.
I hope that the familiar songs will evoke the past and encourage them to engage in, and enjoy, activities at their clubs and care homes.
Juliet Kelly
We are proud to have helped to create this programme with Juliet Kelly and all our partners.
At a time when older people are physically separated as never before, we hope that the spirit of Songs From Life will embrace everyone who hears it.
David Jones OBE, Director, Serious
Nubian Life is a charity providing adult social care to African Caribbean elders.
Juliet Kelly ‘effortlessly mixes jazz, soul, pop and funk – one of the UK's finest singers in any genre’ (Time Out)
Serious produces festivals and explores new ways of using music
Filming by Three Shades Creative.
