Music producer from Kew works with Kenyan artists to raise money and awareness for the Millennium Seed Bank partnership
Dan Massie with drummers, deep in the Taita Hills
A music producer living in Kew has collaborated with Kew’s Millennium Seed Bank Project (MSBP) and some of Kenya’s leading musicians to produce a CD – Seeds for Life – raising money for conservation work in Kenya and educating the country’s youngsters about their natural heritage.
Dan Massie, 30, was inspired by a feature article about Kew’s MSBP to contact Paul Smith, head of Kew’s Millennium Seed Bank (MSB) and leader of the MSBP, to offer his musical talent to help promote the project’s work. Kew’s MSB is home to seeds from nearly 30,000 wild plant species, collected by MSBP partner countries around the world and including some of the planet’s most threatened plants.
“I was reading a copy of Kew Magazine at my mum’s house when a feature about Kew’s Millennium Seed Bank Project caught my eye. I had not heard about the project before and reading about it inspired me to get in touch to offer my help in spreading the word about its important work by producing a CD with a conservation theme,” says Dan.
In May 2008 Dan spent three weeks in Kenya after it was decided to pilot the idea as part of the ‘Seeds for Life’ project, a partnership between five Kenyan environmental agencies and Kew’s MSB. ‘Seeds for Life’ aims to conserve the country’s indigenous flora, particularly dryland plants that are most vulnerable to climate change.
Dan travelled around the country recording musicians where he could: school halls, hotel rooms, backstreet rehearsal rooms and even the Kenyan bush. As well as highlighting new Kenyan talent, the project attracted internationally celebrated Kenyan musicians such as superstar Teddy Kalanda Harrison.
Kenyan superstar Teddy Harrison is happy to contribute a brand new song
The former "Them Mushrooms" band leader, and writer of Kenya’s biggest international hit, Hakuna Matata, collaborated with Dan on two songs for the album. Ho jambo and Plant Another One express his concerns for the planet in both Swahili and English:
“Let’s take care of our environment, it’s the only one we have…
…If you cut down a tree, make sure you plant another one” From Plant Another One
“Seed give live, seeds bring life. Seeds for life” From Ho jambo
During his time in Kenya, Dan also joined a seed collecting trip with Kew’s MSBP east African country co-ordinator, Tim Pearce, and seed collection staff from the National Museums of Kenya, one of the partners in ‘Seeds for Life’.
“It was fantastic to go out in the field and help with the important work of the ‘Seeds for Life’ project. Over the 14 days we were out in the field the team managed to collect seeds from 25 plant species new to the collections at Kew’s Millennium Seed Bank – many having very high value either in terms of rarity or potential indigenous value. Samples will be conserved both in Kenya and at Kew’s Millennium Seed Bank in Sussex,” says Dan.
In Nairobi, hip-hop rap artists Ukoo Flani record their track for the CD.
An eclectic mix of performers features on the Seeds for Life CD and there is something for everyone: a children’s choir, a capella singing, poetry, traditional music and the urban sounds of Swahili hip hop courtesy of Nairobi group Ukoo Flani.
“As well as raising money for and awareness of the work of the Millennium Seed Bank Partnership in Kenya, I hope the CD will also highlight Kenyan music to a UK audience,” adds Dan.
William Ingosi Mwoshi performs Luhya music with his son in the group Ingosi Allstars
The ‘Seeds for Life’ project is giving 500 free CDs to the National Museums of Kenya for use in their schools education programmes.
"Using music to promote the work of Kew’s Millennium Seed Bank Project is a departure for us, but we are keen to explore new ways of engaging with people, especially young people who are the future custodians of our planet. We hope it will inspire Kenyan youngsters,” says Tim Pearce.
To buy a copy of Seeds for Life (£7.50 plus postage and packaging) use the link top right. It is also available in the Kew Gardens and Wakehurst Place shops.
Full track listing of Seeds for Life:
1. Global Warning, Oneko & Michel aka Sent-A-Line
2. Chamyenyon, Cheptab
3. Karibu Kenya, Taffi Dancers
4. Flora Jesca Mpenzi, Jackson Ingosi
5. Tugen Warrior Chorus
6. Ho jambo, Teddy Harrison & Masdafarai
7. C Mazingira,Kayamba Africa
8. Africa, Radi Cultural Troupe
9. Jambo, Betty’s Orphanage say hello
10. Nurumi Mwana wu Munda, William Ingosi Mwoshi
11. Frogs chatting in the Rift Valley, Ol ari Nyiro
12. Dem Trees, Ukoo Flani & Masdafarai
13. Song from Betty’s Orphanage
14. Amos The Cowboy
15. Vumilia, Helen Akoth & Afrizo
16. Monto Monene, Sam Ondiegi
17. Wind blowing in the Rift Valley,Ol ari Nyrio
18. Respect Nature, Jirongi (from Ukoo Flani) & Masdafarai
19. Dhako Nyowawa, The Kairobangi School Choir, Nairobi
20. Pokot Women Chorus
21. Plant Another One, Teddy Harrison & Masdafarai
22. Zawadi ya shukrani, John Williams
23. Listening, Tim Pearce
24. Night Time in the Rift Valley, Ol ari Nyiro
More info
‘Radi Cultural Troupe’
East African traditional and folk music and dance is showcased by the Radi Cultural Troupe whose mission is to preserve and promote East African’s intangible heritage through their performances.
‘Ukoo Flani’
Ukoo Flani, founded in Mombasa in 1996, has been described as a revolutionary hip-hop movement led by thirteen self-proclaimed soldiers who use hip-hop music as a tool to wage war against social injustice and inequality in their native Kenya. Going back to the old centuries, Africans used poetry, song, and story-telling to educate and inform the youth about culture, tradition, and history. Ukoo Flani continue to honour the traditiions of their ancestors using contemporary urban music that catches the ear of today’s youth.
All photos by Dan Massie
