Tuesday, January 5, 2010
Rija Rasolondraibe
I went to a concert of a famous Malagasy evangelical Christian singer on December 30. I started liking his music when I heard it on the bus countless times in July. I got the songs stuck in my head and started singing them to Malagasy friends until someone could tell me his name--Rija Rasolondraibe. Try saying that three times fast--let alone remembering it in the market! BUt if you remember that his last name means "grandfather's replacement" it's a wee bit easier!
Daniel finally found one of his CDs for me for Christmas. Then I found out a group from our church was going to his concert. I left home at 2 in the afternoon, finally got on the bus about 3 (some of the people I had to meet were late). We waited outside the auditorium (it’s indoors, a bit like Vets in Des Moines) for everyone and the woman who had our tickets for quite awhile. We got inside, found our seats in the last row (the place isn’t as big as Vets so not as far away, still pretty good seats) and waited and waited. The concert was supposed to start at 5 but didn’t start until 6, which was when most everyone had finally arrived. It was so hot and stuffy in there, no AC, no windows!
But it was great! Rija had a whole entourage with him of backup singers and a group of 6 gals that did a pretty good job of dancing. There were smoke machines, flames bursting from the front of the stage along with the beat, not to mention the flashing lights and big screen video and a screen just for the lyrics. A pretty impressive show for Madagascar—he even changed suits at intermission! ; )
The only technical glitch was that their projector got a little faulty, getting blurry and going on and off, in the second half. But all in all, it was a good show! He really sings from his heart and has had a big impact on many people here. He grew up as a “Christian,” going to church, but when he went abroad to study, he had a real conversion experience. His songs are beautiful and authentic. There’s one asking the Holy Spirit to come and fill you, another inviting Jesus to fill the place, and still another about the importance of prayer. There’s one he wrote too about heaven and how there won’t be any more politics there but just rejoicing together in unity (clearly Madagascar was on his mind when he wrote that one).
All in all it was a great experience of worshiping with friends. I'm thankful to God for this man who, though he lives abroad, is committed to writing worship songs in his mother tongue and coming home to Madagascar to perform each year.
Daniel finally found one of his CDs for me for Christmas. Then I found out a group from our church was going to his concert. I left home at 2 in the afternoon, finally got on the bus about 3 (some of the people I had to meet were late). We waited outside the auditorium (it’s indoors, a bit like Vets in Des Moines) for everyone and the woman who had our tickets for quite awhile. We got inside, found our seats in the last row (the place isn’t as big as Vets so not as far away, still pretty good seats) and waited and waited. The concert was supposed to start at 5 but didn’t start until 6, which was when most everyone had finally arrived. It was so hot and stuffy in there, no AC, no windows!
But it was great! Rija had a whole entourage with him of backup singers and a group of 6 gals that did a pretty good job of dancing. There were smoke machines, flames bursting from the front of the stage along with the beat, not to mention the flashing lights and big screen video and a screen just for the lyrics. A pretty impressive show for Madagascar—he even changed suits at intermission! ; )
The only technical glitch was that their projector got a little faulty, getting blurry and going on and off, in the second half. But all in all, it was a good show! He really sings from his heart and has had a big impact on many people here. He grew up as a “Christian,” going to church, but when he went abroad to study, he had a real conversion experience. His songs are beautiful and authentic. There’s one asking the Holy Spirit to come and fill you, another inviting Jesus to fill the place, and still another about the importance of prayer. There’s one he wrote too about heaven and how there won’t be any more politics there but just rejoicing together in unity (clearly Madagascar was on his mind when he wrote that one).
All in all it was a great experience of worshiping with friends. I'm thankful to God for this man who, though he lives abroad, is committed to writing worship songs in his mother tongue and coming home to Madagascar to perform each year.
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