Fusion garba with sanedo in Swahili

Ahmedabad-based music group is adapting sanedo lyrics in African language for the benefit of Gujaratis settled there
By Yogesh Avasthi and Dhwani Pathak
Posted On Monday, September 22, 2008 (Ahmedabad Mirror)
Rajiv Awasthi and his troupe members rehearse their Swahili sanedos before leaving for AfricaThe garba is going Swahili. Not quite here in Ahmedabad, but in Kenya and Tanzania in East Africa.For years, music groups have been making a trip down to East Africa to cater to Gujaratis settled there.

This year, they plan to perform in the local lingo, Swahili, for a larger audience. Taking the lead is N&N Entertainment Group, a city-based orchestra, which has adapted sanedo lyrics in the African language. Sanedo in anything but Gujarati is unheard of, but one city-based music group says there’s ample reason for the fusion. Rajiv Avasthi, lead singer of the group, says, “Two years ago when I first went to Tanzania, I added sanedo in garba songs.

The crowds had never heard it before, and loved it.” He adds, “To add colour, I mixed sanedo with local words.”The custom-made sanedo is becoming a rage with the Gujaratis of East Africa. “They love to listen to Gujarati folk music in their adapted language,” he adds. Avasthi gives himself a free hand experimenting with the sanedo.

He says, “Generally, garba organisers do not want us to play Hindi film music or songs. They insist that we play only Gujarati garba. When it comes to sanedo, which is usually sung towards the end, they let us mix some Hindi music.” Some of the favourite lyrics for the sanedo continue to be Lalu Prasad’s one-liners. Avasthi says, “Lalu is well-known all over the world.

Indians always like to hear some lines about him.” This time around, apart from the Swahili-sprinkled sanedo, some will be written specially for the Patel community. One has lines that go... Africama avine thai gayo dobo, Raakhe nyumba dogo, Hajuy kahu chu sudhri jaa, Naitar tari bairi deshe dhokhoLaal sanedo... Avasthi says, “African culture lets a man have more than one wife, so women there feel Indians also must be having some fun on the side.”

He adds, “On one of my trips, a group of women requested me to write a sanedo on this theme. Hence, I wrote a sanedo.”An architect by education, Avasthi has been going to various places outside India with his troupe. He narrates an incident, “On the eighth day of Navratri, when special offerings are made to Mataji, I had authentic Gujarati food consisting of khandvi, dal, laadoo and felt like meeting the maharaj (cook).

What I saw surprised me. The maharaj was a 50-year-old local African named Aali and he spoke fluent Gujarati. He was known as ‘Aali Maharaj’ among the Gujaratis there.” The next day, Avasthi penned a sanedo dedicated to him.For all you know, the ‘Aali Maharaj’ sanedo could well be playing the popular garba venues on CG Road too."

Two years ago when I first went to Tanzania, I added sanedo in garba songs. The crowds hadnever heard it before, and loved it. They love to listen to Gujarati folk music in their adapted language."—Rajiv Avasthi