Speech at the Opening of the Masamba Samba School New Premises
Dublin, 11th March 2015
I am delighted to join you all here today for the official opening of these impressive new premises, which mark yet another chapter in the story of the Masamba Samba School. I would like to thank Simeon Smith for his invitation to join you and all of you for that enthusiastic welcome.
Is cinnte gur scéal spreagúil é scéal an Masamba Samba School, scéal atá fréamhaithe i ndáimh agus i spiorad an chineáltais. Scéal é a thosaigh mar thionscnamh beag fórine san ionad ealaíon agus atá tar éis fás ina bpobal beo fuinniúil agus ina réimse chuimsitheach ar féidir leis an uile duine a roinnt.
[The story of the Masamba Samba School is indeed an inspiring one, rooted in a spirit of kinship and generosity which has seen a small team initiative at the Arts Centre grow and develop into what has become a vibrant community and inclusive space to be shared by all.]
Your achievements are impressive. Performances by the Masamba group in countries across the globe, including Mexico, Brazil, Chicago and Toulouse have drawn the highest praise. The group is an established part of Ireland’s musical landscape, regularly performing at festivals around the country including at the St Patrick’s Festival itself, which is such a significant symbol of an Irish culture and heritage which is now enjoyed in communities across the world. Sabina and I have, of course, had the great pleasure in recent years of inviting the Masamba Samba School to Áras an Uachtaraáin to perform at one of the annual garden parties.
I was also most interested to hear of how infectious the musical performance is – that some of the adult Samba group were practising on City Quay and the beat of the music simply inspired some young people in the area to pick up plastic buckets and basins and join in. From that unifying moment, the samba group recognised the possibilities for the children of Dublin city and ‘MaSamba do Mananha’ (MaSamba of tomorrow) was born.
That is just one example of how, over twenty years, those involved with the MaSamba Samba School have been reaching out to the wider community, demonstrating how sharing a sense of creativity can unlock so much of society’s potential. The roots which the school is developing in the local area are strong and enduring, as is the great connection it is fostering with members of the community and the education sectors, offering the exciting prospect of delivering meaningful long term projects.
Through your workshops – of which you delivered a remarkable 585 last year – your weekly open rehearsals, your special events and study visits you have created an exciting and stimulating landscape for young people from the locality, as well of course as for special needs groups, disadvantaged young children and disability groups from the broader community.
Spaces built around concepts like the Masamba School provide room and an outlet for young people’s creativity, and they offer essential support and encouragement to young people in expressing that creativity. In doing this they impact positively, not only on the communities which they serve, but on our society as a whole in that they allow the community builders of the future to develop their innate imagination, curiosity and originality. We therefore owe a great debt of gratitude to organisations and groups like the Masamba school, of which I am proud to be Patron.
There are many different translations of the word Samba but my own particular favourite is that derived from the Kimbundu (Angolan) term semb relating to an ‘invitation to dance’; a phrase that speaks of friends and strangers coming together in harmony and mutual goodwill. Samba is, of course, a form of music which has a particular largesse at its heart. It has its own specific and unique rhythm, but encompasses a whole historical culture of food, dance, parties, costumes and celebration, thriving on a sense of togetherness and communal friendship. It is a music which continually evolves, loyal always to its Brazilian roots and culture but willing to embrace and reflect other influences in a complex and ever changing world.
It is such a celebration of community and culture which lies at the heart of the Masamba School, and it is uplifting to be here today to witness how much has been achieved since its establishment twenty years ago. Now that you are moving on to a larger space in order to realise your full potential, I know that you aspire to be able to facilitate other youth music initiatives here and to use the premises as a youth arts centre to serve the entire community. The provisions of such spaces, which explore and nurture creativity, are essential if we are to make free a future generation to develop their imaginations, realise their potential and possibilities within a truly fair and equal society.
Is mian liom sibh a mholadh don méid oibre luachmhar atá déanta agaibh ar son bhur bpobal agus bhur sochaí agus guím gach rath oraibh agus sibh ag fás agus ag forbairt amach anseo.
[May I commend you for your valuable contribution to your community and to our society and wish you every success as you continue to thrive and grow.]
Go raibh míle maith agaibh go léir.