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A messenger in name and actions
“I want people to feel happy through music,” said singer Misia, who
endeavors to bridge Africa and Japan through the power of music.
The acclaimed singer is the honorary ambassador of The Seventh Tokyo
International Conference on African Development (TICAD 7), which will be held
in Yokohama from Aug. 28 to 30. This is her second time in the role,
following her first stint in 2013 (TICAD V).
Misia is hopeful about letting more Japanese people know about Africa and
sings the conference’s theme song “Amazing Life,” which is also the theme
song of the popular NHK program “Darwin ga kita! Ikimono Shin Densetsu,” a
show that looks at different animals around the world.
“Music is a tool for communication, especially between people with different
languages. We can share our feelings through music. In Africa, people recite
each other’s songs. That way, they can communicate with each other (even if
they use different languages),” she said during a July interview with The
Japan Times in Tokyo.
Spreading Africa’s charm
Misia wants to spread the charm of Africa to Japan and the world through
sharing her experience of visiting some of the countries across the African
continent. The singer, who rose to fame after the release of her single “
Everything” in 2000, has visited eight African countries over the past
decade.
Noting that there are over 50 countries in Africa, and that each has a unique
culture, nature and history of its own, Misia said: “Africa today has a
sense of momentum — with an expanding economy, women’s empowerment,
biodiversity, development of medicine and more. But (these things) are not
just about Africa. Our lives are linked and it has to do with our lives, too;
we need to think about various issues with a wider perspective.”
She added that she believes not many people in Japan — and in the world —
know about “the real (state of) Africa today.”
“Did you know that South Africa is the only place in the world that produces
Rooibos tea?” Misia asked with a smile. “It’s not just that we (Japan)
support Africa. We are supported by Africa, too, through their exports such
as Rooibos tea, chocolates, energy sources and more.”
The singer stresses that it’s important to first take interest in Africa,
then learn about its blessings, as well as the problems that the continent
holds and try to tackle the issues from the standpoint of each individual. “
It’s sometimes good to get tips from experts as well. Greater power is
created when powers of individuals (and companies and organizations) come
together,” she said.
Misia’s first experience in Africa was when she visited Kenya in 2007. The
singer traveled to the Kibera slum in Nairobi, one of the largest slums in
the world, and met with children at the Magoso elementary school. Children
who have lost their parents live there together, and she was happy to find
out that her visit to the school sparked interest in some children, pushing
them to work toward realizing their dreams, with studying in Japan being one
of them.
After that, she became a board member of mudef — a charity foundation that
supports Africa through education, while working to eliminate poverty and
eradicate malaria — and visited seven more African countries.
Misia said that although it was shocking to know that there were many
children battling illnesses in Africa, it was more shocking to find out that
“there are children who die without even being able to battle illnesses”
due to limited hygiene and lack of medication. According to 2018 UNICEF
findings, 5.4 million children die before they reach the age of 5. Misia says
she wants to continue searching for ways to help end this malicious circle.
Messages that life brings
Misia’s interest in Africa and the theme of life derives from her upbringing
on Tsushima island, Nagasaki Prefecture, where she first discovered soul
music as a child and further honed her five-octave vocal range. She also
became naturally conscious of the messages that life brings through birth and
death because of her parents’ encounters in their careers (both are doctors).
Speaking on her impetus to take interest in social issues, she also gives
credit to the extensive peace studies covered at schools in Nagasaki, the
site where the second atomic bomb was dropped in 1945 during World War II. “
That is how I became interested in international dispute issues,” said
Misia. “We need to make a society where life is valued more.”
Even in Japan, where society is seemingly affluent, Misia stresses that the
problem of poverty and child abuse is rampant. There are countless children
in need — those whose voices are difficult to hear.
Music and giving back
According to Misia, being a musician and pursuing social contribution
activities are linked in the sense that they have the same goal — sending a
message to people. “I can do these activities and speak out, all because I’
m a musician. Conveying messages through songs is what singers do,” she said.
Misia explained that whereas some musicians feel that music is entertainment
that expresses the extraordinary, for her, music is something that is more
realistic. “I want to tell my real feelings and real situations (in society)
through music,” she said.
In tandem with her activities for TICAD 7, Misia published the picture book “
Heart no Leona” (“Leona’s heart”) on July 26.
It is a story about a female lion named Leona with a heart on her forehead.
Leona travels around Africa with a pelican friend to learn more about Africa,
both growing to appreciate the continent along the way. The pair encounter
many different animals, cultures, languages and issues in each country, and
the places that they visit are ones Misia visited herself. The singer hopes
people will be able to discover Africa’s beauty through reading the book.
“The model for the lion is a Japanese girl who died at just 18 months old
due to an illness,” Misia said sadly. “The little girl taught me the
meaning of life. I found out from her situtation that there are many children
like her who die at a young age. Through this picture book, I wanted to show
her the beauty of Africa.”
Some of the book’s revenue will be used to support children with illnesses
in Japan as well as children in Africa.
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