This blog documents two visits to Northern Ireland by Smack Jay. June and December 2024
Smack Jay is musician, activist and our ambassador linking Northern Ireland to Zambia with our partners OpenNet40
My name is Samuel Miyoba better known as Smack Jay Zambia. I was born in Southern Province, Choma District, Zambia. I completed my secondary education in 2012 at Choma secondary school and I decided to focus on music. I am an established artist who uses his music as a platform for social impact and advocacy. My songs are centered around spreading messages of positivity, hope and social change. I'm not afraid to tackle controversial topics such as issues Poverty, inequality, children's / human rights, corruption and climate change. My unique sound blends traditional Zambian rhythms with modern hiphop beats, creating a style that is fresh and authentic.
DECEMBER 2024 (Human Rights Festival)
Beyond Skin and Northern Ireland Human Rights Consortium invited Smack Jay back to Northern Ireland for a series of activities for Human Rights Festival
Activities included...
Workshops at Rathcoole Primary School, Drumintee Primary School, John Paul II Youth Club, CAN Lislagan Farm, East Belfast Alternatives, North Coast Welcome Hub.
Rap Against Racism concert with Leo Miyagee at Oh Yeah Music Centre, and continued music collaborations with 5th Element Belfast. And guest invites by Lord Mayor of Belfast, Rogue Encounters and NI Human Rights Commission.
BBC Report https://www.bbc.com/news/articles/c938892g294o
A special thanks to primary partners NI Human Rights Commission & Festival, 5th Element, OpenNet40.
I was invited by Beyond Skin through Darren Ferguson to Northern Ireland in June 2024. Beyond Skin have worked in partnership with Zambian local organisation
OpenNet40 since 2019. On 17 June 2024 I left Zambia to travel to Belfast via Dubai and London.
Day 2 I attended the Migrant Centre NI colours of peace event at Belfast Castle where I learned the history of Northern Ireland conflicts and how they managed the road to actual peace. I was happy to see how participants suggested how we could resolve peace and use art as the centre for dialogue.. I met and a chat with people from different parts of the world who came to live in Northern Ireland looking for freedom. I must say, I was amazed to see how welcomed they were by host communities. Later that day I was invited to R City youth group Belfast to lead a workshops. As an established artist I encouraged them on the importance of discovering their passion and starting to practice what they love at a young age. I was accompanied by a dancer from Eritrea by the Name of Berie. This whole experience made me realise the importance of having developmental talks with the youths and also I was impressed at their willingness to address social shared issues.
Day 3 was a whole different experience at Banbridge High school. I was able chat and discuss on Children's Rights with the students. We danced to my music and had a Question and answer session.
Day 4 I visited Hotbox Studio Belfast together with dancer and DJ Berie and Meron who plays an amazing stringed instrument called a Krar. It was a marvel. We recorded music, we danced, we had fun and I was able to meet James who happens to be the C.E.O of hotbox studio. James is multi talented producer from videos, beat making, top notch studio engineering. I also met his assistant supercool producer. also called James and soul,singer Siobhan who also co-founded Soultrane Festival Belfast.
Later same day I visit 5th Element, a collective and club that specializes in HipHop music, art and breakdance where I met different artists, producers, dancers. I must say I met the industry game changers. It was a whole different experience. Seeing a studio that accommodates all disciplines of entertainment in one place was great. I met Daz and Paul who happens to be team leaders. Very down to earth and so visionary. I shared with them my passion to grow the industry back home and looking at how I've struggled to work with the Disabled artists. Paul actually donated cameras to this cause and I was & I'm still humbled. Northern Ireland was giving me a home feeling. The people in this place were so welcoming. Our discussions became emotional.
Day 5 Ireland. I had three events. My first event was int St Patrick Primary School< Dunmurry. I discussed Children's Rights, Performed and danced with the students. I learned new dance skills performed by teachers and students. It was amazing to hear how eager children would like to visit Africa and just see the other side of the world.
I later joined other artists at Show Some Love Belfast where we commemorated the Make Music Day UK. I performed alongside a super talented star Luigi who produced a song about peace and unity, and Behnam (Iran) and Binu (India). It was amazing to freestyle along and just add an African feel to the sound. The drums which in Zambia we call Ingoma are played by a team of artists. This collaboration performance reminded me of this and made me feel at home. We were streamed live around the world as part of the Paris Olympiad music relay with 22 countries.
Later in the night I performed at the Soultrane event in Belfast. It was great to see a woman front line the growth of Soul and African Sound not just in Northern Ireland but around the world. Siobhan Brown a female Soul singer is really a life changing artist. Working together with her husband Dee who was the DJ of the night brought a lifetime challenge to me. The Soultrane night was a whole vibe. I performed while enjoying seeing how people were able to dance to the Kalifunku/Afro African sound, indeed music speaks all languages and it is one of the best tools to bring people together.
Day 6 The Refugee Picnic managed by City of Sanctuary which took place on Saturday the 22nd of June was a life changing event for me. I had a chance to meet the Mayor of the City if Belfast Councillor Micky Murray. Lot's of artists from different countries showcased their traditions and passion for humanity. As a Children's Rights Activist from Zambia I saw the importance of having a Child's Rights picnic with key players and leaders, including children. The music, the dancing, the happiness, the food and everything was just amazing. I met fellow Africans from Nigeria, Ethiopia, South Africa, Sudan and many other countries. This was just amazing. The way these people have been welcomed in Northern Ireland proved how important it is to care for one another.
Day 7 I had a privilege to film a music video for my song BEYOND SKIN on the 23rd of June in Belfast with Paul from 5th Element studio. This gave me a chance to see the amazing beauty of Belfast. The song is an anti racism song which was produced with support from Beyond Skin organisation. The audio is available on Bandcamp and the music video will be released soon.
Day 8 I performed at St Patrick School in Lisburn. We as well had a chance to discuss the importance of discovering and growing passion. I had a chance to teach the students African dances while performing and teaching more on children's rights. This felt like home away from home. Very nice welcome from teachers and students. Later same day I was invited to BBC studios to talk live on air about my work in Zambia and my visit. We had a chat about music, culture and my journey in Children's Rights Advocacy. I had a chance to speak what I feel must be addressed by social media control bodies. For example I feel some content should be restricted (not to be watched/viewed by young users). I also think it's right to have educational sections on every platform just like we have health sections. The BBC also play my song 'Beyond Skin' which was very cool.
Day 9 Integrated College Glengormley diversity concert was my final performance in Northern Ireland. This was an amazing finale to my visit I performed alongside artists from Afghan, Eritrea, South Africa, Ireland. I spoke about racism and discrimination. Little did I know that there was an albino girl in the audience. I mentioned that colour, race or language just like I said in my song is nothing but part of human description. The albino girl was very moved by my words. Zarifa from Afghanistan spoke how girls now are forbidden to go to school in Afghanistan and wore here old school uniform, everyone was emotional from her words. Everyone then celebrated music and togetherness and danced to my songs. I forever cherish the moment and I hope she's strong to understand that nothing makes her different from the rest. Amongst the the guests was Councillor Neil Kelly the Mayor of Antrim and Newtownabbey. Seeing him and the rest of the audience dancing to African music was just nice. We all danced, we cried, we laughed and sang together.
Day 10 My tour had come to an end and I started to make my way home to Zambia. Northern Ireland became my home away from home. An amazing experience and new friendships I will treasure.
Smack Jay facebook Smack Jay instagram
Thank you all our partners involved on this tour
OpenNet4.0 Zambia
5th Element NI
Soultrane Festival
Hotbox Ent
ibis Belfast City Centre
Belfast City Of Sanctuary
Connswater
Clanmil Housing Association
Choice Housing
Apex Housing Association
(HousingForAll Northern Ireland Executive)
Migrant Centre NI
R City
Integrated College Glengormley
St Anne's Primary School
St Patrick's Academy Lisburn
Banbridge High School
Show Some Love Belfast
Make Music Day
Make Music Day UK
Institut du monde arabe
BBC Radio Ulster
Zambia Association of Musicians - ZAM
Ministry of Tourism Zambia
Arts Council of Northern Ireland as part of our MARRS project
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