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Music unites: How to create a community in an online world?

As this world map reveals, our first-year students represent a whole bunch of different backgrounds and identities. Some of them currently living in The Hague, some of them elsewhere in the Netherlands or abroad. How can we try and make use of the situation and create a community…online?

In the Brightspace environment of the course ‘Introduction to International Studies’, Prof. Maurits Berger and Roos ter Elst (Student well-being counselor) facilitate for students to meet each other in an online café. The coffee is unfortunately not included, but the students are asked to interact on weekly topics while imagining the sound of a coffee machine in the background.

Last week, students were asked to share two things: A song that makes them long for home and their favorite protest song. One thing is for sure, the reactions were overwhelming, coming literally from all over the world, from Brazil to Hong Kong and from South Africa to Lithuania. The personal stories and explanations gave extra depth; ‘Homesick’ songs ranged from songs that make you tear up, to happy songs played in a favorite national theme park (‘Efteling’), to songs that bring nations together when celebrating a win at ice hockey.

Quote student 1:  My homesick song is "Yoo Leng!" This traditional Acholi song was composed by my Grandmother,  but it later was popularised by the musician Odong Romeo. The youtube video is a must watch and a prime example of my tribe's music and dance culture.

Quote student 2: A song for a protest. I guess it's rather a difficult task for a citizen of every nation that has recently experienced opressions or regained their freedom. My choice would be a song that was first released when Lithuania was fighting for its freedom in the very begining of 90's. I wasn't born yet, but this song is still sung by the young and the elderly.

One thing is for sure in a protest song: You don’t even have to understand the language, when the song is so powerful, the message comes across. Often mentioned is the well-known ‘Bella Ciao’, not (only) because of its role in Netflix’s series ‘La Casa del Papel’, but because of its ‘revolutionary anthem for the fight against fascism’.   

Let’s continue to share these stories and use online opportunities as best as we can!

Quote student 2:The discussion forums, and especially the latest playlists really make me feel more connected and at home with the class of 2023, even though we can't all meet in person.

Curious? Follow the playlists below for over 11 hours of listening!

This link takes you to the Spotify 'Home' playlist. 
This link takes you to the Spotify 'Protest' playlist. 

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