Franca Asindi: Music and me (30 Days, 30 Voices)

I wanted the heavens to hear me and so I expressed my need for a different story through my song. My eyes were tightly shut and all I saw while I sang were white clouds. The heavens heard my voice!

I recall clearly the first time I sang in front of my sisters and how they laughed and mocked the living daylights out of me. My voice was husky and I sounded like a constipated frog. My self-confidence dropped and I made up my mind never to sing in front of them or anyone else again. Even though I didn’t think I did so badly with singing, I always believed I was the worst singer in my family. One day while I was in church, our Sunday school teacher announced that the church was starting a children’s choir and needed volunteers. Even though I wasn’t sure of myself plus the fact that my folks thought I croaked when I opened my mouth to sing, I joined the choir determined to disappear into the crowd and never get noticed. But music being the spirit that it is, found me and somehow, I was given the lead solo for the final song that was to be performed before the entire church congregation to mark the end of children’s week.

I didn’t tell anyone at home because I didn’t want to be discouraged. While I practiced with the choir I had some home issues which were more financial than musical. I was 9 years old and I was getting ready to enter secondary school. While I was excited about this, my mum had other plans. The day I was going to sing my solo with the children’s choir, my mum told me she would not be able to afford books and school fees for my older sister and I that year, she pleaded with me to step down for my sister. My spirit died a million deaths; I was livid, I sat and cried by my father’s grave the whole day, but then I couldn’t really hold much against her, she was widowed when I was barely three months old and had nine of us to deal with.

With the sad news from my mum, I walked into church that faithful evening and sang my heart out. I wasn’t sure what the meaning of the song I belted out was but because of what I was feeling at the time I sang it with raw emotion and conviction. I wanted to go to school like the children in my class and in that choir; I wanted to prove a point that I was better than where I was placed. I wanted to prove to my folks that I was a better singer than everyone in my family; I wanted my mum to know that I was too sound to miss a year at school. I wanted the heavens to hear me and so I expressed my need for a different story through my song. My eyes were tightly shut and all I saw while I sang were white clouds. The heavens heard my voice!

When I opened my eyes, the entire church was on its feet, applauding. I can’t say for sure that I knew what happened while I sang, but at the end of service that day, I became a star kid in church and at home. On my way out of church, someone called me to the side and gave me Thirty Naira (N30). He said to me “I’ve never heard a kid sing this good before and I want to encourage you with this money”, I was in shock, I wanted to be a well-mannered kid and say no, but then I needed that money for my education.  I got home, showed the money to my mum but didn’t let her take it.

I went into the market the very next day and bought 6 note books, went to my secondary school of choice (AGGS) and got registered to class 1E. Thank God for free education but above that, thank God for the gift of music. Music made that possible. It restored my confidence and set me on a path to getting educated. Many years have passed and I’ve never stopped singing even though it’s mostly in my bathing room. Music is food to my soul and is at the centre of my existence. When the pastor says your gift will make ways for you, please believe him, because I stand as a true testimony to all of it. Everyone is gifted but some people never open their package. Your gift may not be singing but trust me, there’s something inside of you, given to you by God, to help you survive the pitfalls in life, you just need to find it.

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30 Days 30 Voices series is an opportunity for young Nigerians to share their stories and experiences with other young Nigerians, within our borders and beyond, to inspire and motivate them.

 

Op-ed pieces and contributions are the opinions of the writers only and do not represent the opinions of Y!/YNaija.

Comments (4)

  1. So touching. God is indeed a great provider

  2. Inspiring, rock on!

  3. very interesting story ane encouraging.keep it up!

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