On September 21st, International Day of Peace is celebrated, expressing hope for a better future, empathy for those who have suffered without it, and strength to move on from the tragedies against peace that have struck our nation in this past year. For students here at Gonzaga, the virtue of peace is widely appreciated and exercised within our diversity in race, sexuality, religion, and so much more. The Gonzaga campus is one that looks for peace in all things and I have been honored to be involved with Gonzaga’s celebration of International Day of Peace this year through Gonzaga’s Women’s Chorus.
In honor of such an important day that is to be celebrated, Gonzaga’s choir department chose to use our voices to sing a traditional song of peace for the entire student body to hear. The song chosen, Ukuthula, the Zulu word for peace and a traditional South African song, is one that was composed with the intent to create a more peaceful and inclusive society. The lyrics read, “peace in this world of sin, the blood of Jesus brings peace”, including different words of hope within the text such as redemption, praise, and victory. While reflecting on the impact this song has had on all those who have listened to it and understood the meaning behind the lyrics since it was composed, I have realized how influential all music is for our world today.
Music has played a huge role in my life, being an escape, an inspiration, and an empowering moment of feeing understood. Each of us has our own favorite band, song, instrument, and voice. Yet, when looking deeper into the role music plays in our lives as a whole, music might as well be one of the most inclusive modes of communication between nations. Listening to music is always so much more than a series of individual inspiration; it is a social practice, bringing all people together through the messages music carries. When you are at a concert, surrounded by strangers and suddenly we hear a song like Closer by The Chainsmokers, everyone around you is singing along, feeling the same emotion as you behind the lyrics. When we sing Ukuthula in front of the entire student body, with the different choirs we have never worked with before, we are suddenly one choir, united in a similar goal, to express peace and redemption. Music is more than a song that you can relate to or a set of chords creating a beautiful sound; music is a story. Music is a story of creating a message which brings people together, united in one voice, using art as a way to communicated deeper and universally understood messages, including those of peace. Music’s role in each of our lives is worth so much more than we give it credit, and we should be thankful for the impact music has had in our lives. For this year’s International Peace Day, music can be an expressive way to send a message for a better nation.