Teaching my students the 10 Dimensions of Wellness opens their eyes to the holistic nature of health. It allows them to appreciate the many ways in which they can take strides towards enhancing their health and well-being and enjoying the health and well-being of others. 

Of the (many) dimensions that students had yet to consider previously is that of multicultural wellness. Appreciating and cultivating this dimension of wellness fosters empathy, understanding, and respect for diverse perspectives and experiences. By embracing different cultures, we expand our worldview, enhance our emotional intelligence, and develop skills to navigate an increasingly interconnected global society with sensitivity and openness. While this enriches our personal growth, it also builds more inclusive communities and fosters positive social change. I hope my students will recognize the importance of tolerance, acceptance, and justice for all.

Simple ways in which students can improve their multicultural wellness and collectively enhance individual and community wellness include:

• Attending cultural events.
• Reading multicultural literature.
• Participating in cultural workshops.
• Joining cultural clubs or organizations.
• Engaging in travel or exchange programs.
• Practicing cultural respect.
• Fostering intercultural dialogue.
• Challenging stereotypes and biases.
• Supporting diversity initiatives

All the opportunities listed above exist for my students at my school, but one action they can take in their own time is listening to music from various cultures, genres, and traditions. This can expand their musical horizons, deepen their appreciation for cultural diversity, and foster an understanding of and appreciation for different cultural perspectives.

To expand upon this idea of listening to music from other cultures, I contacted my good friend Dom Servini, a DJ, music journalist, writer, and radio presenter who also runs his own record label, Wah Wah 45s. I asked Dom to create a multicultural playlist and provide thoughts regarding his selections. An edited transcript of our conversation follows, alongside some beautiful music suggestions.

I’ve deliberately made my playlist contemporary so that it connects with your students. It includes artists from my own record label because I know their music so well, and that’s part of the joy of running a record label like Wah Wah 45s, getting to know artists from all over the world.

The first track is from Dele Sosimi who is, in many ways, the last living legend of Afrobeat, a genre of music originating in Nigeria in the late 1960s that emphasizes percussion rhythms and features elements of jazz and funk and lyrics which are often strongly political. Dele was a keyboard player for Fela Kuti who is considered by many as the most important Afrobeat artist. I signed Dele about 10 years ago to my label and this track is from a new project with a group of musicians from different genres, all embracing each others cultures and musical influences, resulting in this incredibly unique record. Mo Se B’ólá tán is a beautiful piece of music.

The second track is by Ana Frango Elétrico, a contemporary Brazilian artist, who is amazing. I love this track, it’s a beautiful piece of music from someone who embraces electronic rock, jazz, soul, everything in her music, but with a Brazilian flavor. Brazilian music is another huge discussion topic, going back to the 60’s and 70’s. With Brazilian music, with African music, it encapsulates politics and culture and the importance of movements in culture and music culture.

This track from Cuban artist Daymé Arocena continues with that political theme. She’s signed to a UK label run by a friend of mine, and creates amazing music. This track, from a few years ago, comes from a place of history, and political controversy and revolution. This is an example of how we can connect with culture through music. Dayme’s music is a revolutionary – and transformative – fusion of neo soul singing, Afro-Caribbean beats and pop.

I wanted to include an Italian tune, because I’m half Italian, and connecting with my cultural roots is really important. Italian music is generally considered as crooners, opera and cheesy 60’s music. Lucio Dalla is someone I got into when I was 18 years old. I listened to a live album of his incessantly and it encapsulates all kinds of music, from rock, pop, soul and back to pop again. I returned to this track during the COVID lockdown and it has a balearic disco feel to it.

Track number 5 is by 47Soul, who are a Palestinian outfit. If we are talking about understanding culture, I had to include this song. I’ve worked with this group many times over the years and they’ve guested on my radio shows. They are a young and incredibly talented group who take their musical influence from hip-hop, electronica, and R&B and melding it with the sounds of Dabke, a traditional folk dance, and other Shaa’bi roots music. Their name acknowledges the history of their region and the title is very apt for this blog post.

This next track (a huge underground hit) is from a Ghanaian xylophonist, and I have a couple of Ghanaian artists on my record label. The xylophone is a big instrument in Ghana, and this project is a collaboration between two cultures. Isaac Birituro, got together with British group The Rail Abandon and our label supported them to create an album with profits from the sales going towards building a school in Kalba, Ghana. This track also features the vocal talents of Wiyaala, who is also a women’s rights activist and speaks out against family violence in her native Ghana. This track is an example of music allowing me to connect with artists from a country that I’ve never connected with before. Unfortunately Isaac Birituro hasn’t been able to come and play in England because the government, for very vague reasons, has never approved his visa.

Next up is a track from a few years ago, from Raz and Afla, a duo that I’m about to sign to my record label. Raz Olsher is an Israeli producer/musician and Afla Sackey is also a producer/musician, again from Ghana. Together they have created an incredible Afro-electronic uptempo sound. It’s uptempo and joyous, despite all the trouble around the world they are still able to make this wonderful sound.

For track number 8, we travel to Japan. I thought it important to include music from Japan in this selection and understand more about Japanese culture and its acceptance and love for Western culture but with its own very unique style and production and cultural behavior, which I think is exemplified in music like this from Kyoto Jazz Massive. In this track entitled Substream, you’ll hear a very pure, clean aesthetic that you often hear in Japanese music. Attention to detail and a sweetness you’ll usually get with their music.

At number 9 is a track from Mörk, who are from Budapest, Hungary. I thought I’d take you into Eastern Europe for music from a band signed to my friend Adam’s record label, Alberts Favourites. Adam traveled to Hungary to meet the band, see them play, and connect with them so that he could sign them, which I really respect, as it makes a huge difference in his relationship with them. Traveling to meet others, and understand their culture is so very important. Mörk make uptempo music that is optimistic. Sometimes, people view Eastern European music as dark and depressing, but this is hopeful disco music.

Finally, an artist originally from the Congo who grew up in South Africa but now lives in North London. Lea Mondo is a young artist who makes incredible music on Wah Wah 45s that encapsulates a lot of what we’ve just been talking about. Her story is one of diverse cultural influences and a passion for using music as a means of expression. Lea’s music talks about life, love, peace, and freedom while reflecting on the state of the world. 

This microblog post was a featured post in #slowchathealth’s #microblogmonth event. You can search for all of the featured posts here. Please do follow each of the outstanding contributors on social media (including Dom Servini, the author of this post) and consider writing a microblog post of your own to be shared with the global audience of slowchathealth.com

Pair this post with the following:

Dimensions of Wellness by Andy Milne

Moved by Music by Andy Milne

Creating Classroom Playlists by Andy Milne

Have you read the latest Book of the Month recommendation?