In conversation with Blick Bassy: On empowerment and ancestry
To feel grounded is a powerful feeling. It is a process which holds you up and acts as your foundation in life. What are you grounded in? Taking time to inquire and reflect on the kind of stories that you are grounded in and asking yourself whether such stories are serving or hindering your growth are important questions to bear in mind when developing an understanding of who you are. Empowerment from ancestry was a key theme that came to mind whilst in conversation with Blick Bassy, a singer-songwriter hailing from Cameroon. Our discussion touched on spirituality, legacy and the importance of forging a strong connection with self.
Can you speak about your relationship with your ancestry?
I began this process by learning about the different ethnic tribes of Cameroon, and how they connect to ancestry. On my previous album, the cover, which depicts a chief’s house, is inspired by the Bamileke tribe. I think that this is a tribe that is still very committed to maintaining a deep connection to their roots. They show the importance of being connected to ancestry, which will help in the process of development. By seeing how interconnected everything is, this helped me to realise that I am not alone. All of the things that I am doing involves my ancestors, they guide and protect me. I truly believe this. When you believe in something so strongly, you are not afraid of anything. So even when I face challenges I talk to my ancestors and ask them to stay with me and push me up to face a problem. When I started to adopt this practice and way of seeing things, it completely changed my life.
What steps have you taken to connect with self?
When I decided to reject the standard of our societies, this was a major step in the process of connecting with self. Rejecting such standards is a full-time job which requires commitment. I began to ask myself important questions like who am I? Am I really who I think am? What does it mean to be rich? What does it mean to live in poverty? What does it mean to be beautiful? What does it mean to be ugly? – these are words that can be perceived differently in different spaces. When you start asking such questions, you can really begin to truly understand your environment. We have been educated to only see what society wants us to see, and not what is actually there. Just stop and begin to pay more attention to your surroundings. If you watch grass, the trees, you see that everything is coming from something. This process will bring you back to your roots and show you how simple a return to self can be.
When you started making changes in your life did it feel awkward initially?
I was actually surprised that people around me couldn’t understand. How do you want to go forward without a link with the roots? Nothing can survive without this. We are the future of our ancestors, so how can we try to cut the link with these roots and think that our life could be better? That’s nonsense. I was actually surprised that it took me a while to see things like this. These are basics that every human being can understand. How could we as Africans think that believing in the ancestors of others, and cutting ties from our own can improve our lives?
In your song Woñi, you mention that your family grew up in fear - What does it mean to live in fear?
It means to not know where to turn and to have no idea of who you are. People live in fear because we are not connected to ancestry. We do not know who we really are, so we live in fear. When you are connected, even when you are far away from home, you know that the connection remains, so you can’t fear. We are made from energy, when you are feeding your energy with such feelings, you are increasing the presence of fear which will follow you around. On the other hand, if you are feeding your energy with feelings of security, this too will also follow you around.
Seeing how interconnected everything is, what kind of ancestor do you hope to be and what legacy do you wish to leave?
My grandchild will be my future and I am their past; I hope to help my people understand how interlinked we all are. If you want to shine its important to be connected with the roots. By being connected with the roots we are better equipped to understand what is needed for us for our emancipation. When you see what is happening today, most people are completely lost because of this disconnection. This leads to things being created without sense. I hope to be an ancestor that protects and guides my future community. I want to be part of a wider Pan-African ancestry that is there to serve the wider continent. We are the prototype of human beings; we are made of love. That love has ensured that we are still here today and has fuelled a resilience despite slavery, colonialism and different forms of imperialism. I want to teach my grandchildren to remember that we are made of love, and we can share this message with the world.
Connect with Blick Bassy
All images published with permission from the Interviewee.