Celebrating Women Musicians from South America
Today is International Women’s Day (IWD).This day recognises the struggle by women to eradicate the cultural, legal and political obstacles that stop them from attaining economic independence and that create an unequal gender status quo. In addition, the day celebrates the progress of women throughout the world despite the limitations imposed upon them.
As with every IWD, the list of women one would like to honour and celebrate and who are an inspiration is an ever lengthening one. This list would be extremely long as one would be duty bound to mention all the women, famous or unknown, working to make a difference.
Nonetheless, as with every IWD, my list, were I to produce it, would include some regulars as I would include my mother, my wonderful sisters (both biological and non-biological), peace activists, law makers, Nobel laureates, leaders, lecturers and professors, writers and poets and not forgetting women bloggers and my online support network - the indefatigable group that supports me when I am faced with misogynists.
During last year’s IWD, my focus was on celebrating African women’s musicians. The magnificent divas who have managed to achieve world class fame and recognition in face of adversity through their talent and sheer hard work.
Continuing on the theme of music and musicians as the arts are very close to my heart, I want to focus on three women musicians of African descent from South America or the Latin world. These women’s ancestry is partly or wholly African - a fact that is acknowledged and splendidly reflected in their music. They too have had to overcome hardship. As Virginia Rodrigues (see below) said at the start of her career: “I have three strikes against me: I’m a woman, I’m black and I’m poor.”
These women truly make up the soundtrack of my life and the lives of many people as their songs encompass universal themes such as love, joy, life, sorrow, struggle, etc. Additionally and more important, the women are exceptionally talented and their music superb and superlative.
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