Some years ago a Somali refugee in Malta felt at home for the first time when he joined a friend to watch a percussionist play with musicians from West Africa.
When the music started, the difference between the Maltese members of the audience and the Somali man melted away as they all enjoyed the songs played by Renzo Spiteri and the foreign musicians.
“That evening might have not made a difference to anyone in the audience but for one man it did,” said the Somali’s friend, Anne Catisson.
This experience planted a seed in Ms Catisson’s mind and, a few years down the line, she brought together musicians from different cultures to share the message of solidarity, peace and tolerance through music.
It all happened with an e-mail she sent out to Mr Spiteri and to Israeli songwriter and musician Idan Raichel suggesting they hold a concert together in aid of her charity organisation called Pamper the World.
A massage therapist by profession, she set up the organisation to provide emotional and physical support to victims of violence and abuse in Malta.
To her surprise both musicians agreed to hold the concert, which will be held tomorrow.
Although they come from different countries, both men have a similar approach to music and are aware of its power to unite people.
Mr Raichel is the founder of the Idan Raichel Project, born out of a spirit of collaboration when he invited 70 musicians from different backgrounds to participate in recordings (now known as the Idan Raichel Project). The musicians include Ethiopian Jews, Arabs and Yemenites among others. Six members will be performing here.
“The difference is we carry on our shoulders the political situation in Israel. Since we are coming from a conflict region, sometimes people boycott the Project just for being Israeli,” Mr Raichel said.
“We need brave people, such as Anne and Renzo, to collaborate and bring to Malta people from conflict areas by using music as a bridge between cultures,” he said, adding: “Don’t judge the Project only by politics, but by its music.”
He explained that while the lyrics of the Project’s songs did not have a political line about borders, they had a socio-political message about the community. “We believe change will start from the people. You can have rules and laws but the change has to come from the people,” he said.
He hoped in future Malta would collaborate more with foreign musicians, irrespective of where they came from, in this message of unity and tolerance.
Mr Spiteri agreed: “It makes a very important statement that music has no borders. People may be conditioned when it comes to political views and situations but people should stop and think before reacting to the music.”
This tolerance aspect will be mirrored in tomorrow’s concert where musicians will not be playing rigid scores. In fact, when Mr Spiteri went to Israel to rehearse recently, the rehearsals were far from rigid. “I rehearse the vibe. I want it to be organic,” Mr Raichel said.
He added: “Renzo will play to the music of the Project but give it his interpretation... So I will be happy to be surprised on stage.”
Asked if there was anything he wanted to add he smiled and said: “Would be nice if Malta gave us 12 points in the next Eurovision.”
The concert will be held at the Hilton, Paceville, tomorrow at 8 p.m. Tickets start from €15 and can be bought from Agenda, Bookends, Exotique, Newskiosk and Vodafone outlets. They can also be bought through maltaticket.com. Proceeds will go towards the Pamper the World association.