A Singer's Ancestry: getting to know my voice

I wanted to write my final Music Hum project on my voice to aid in my self-discovery as I build my identity as a singer/ songwriter. I have been questioned – even almost interrogated – about why my articulation changes as I sing and my accent changes from a colloquial hybrid Kenyan and Ugandan accent to an American one. As a non-American, it must be puzzling to hear my voice shapeshift as I move from talking to singing. Furthermore, my style of singing – my mannerisms, the techniques I evoke repeatedly, the harmonic structures I use, and even the themes and language of the songs I sing – are outside the indigenous musical traditions in Kenya and Uganda that I am aware of. Moreover, they can be traced back to specific singers and music genres developed in culturally specific contexts within black communities in the United States of America.

I used to feel ashamed because these questions were loaded with underlying accusations of internalized racism and a colonial mindset that aspires to be more “Western.” This made me want to know why I sing the way I do; it made me want to learn more about the history of the music that moves me so much. Rather than feeling lost and unable to answer these probing questions, I want to know exactly where my voice comes from. I want to know exactly who my vocal ancestors were and claim them, so I can be proud of the vocal traditions I am a part of. With this knowledge, I can release my voice from any feelings of impostor syndrome and sing confidently, drawing from my musical heritage.