Inspired by Mona Hatoum: Terra Infirma, immigrant and refugee artists of The Texas Room were invited to share their personal journeys and reveal inspiration behind their musical practices. The resulting sound installation is presented in the elevator at the museum and consists of multiple stories spoken by the artists in their native language.
Featured artists include:
Claudia “Coco” Nkurunziza — singer, age 16, Burundi, speaking in Kirundi
Lemké — rapper, age 30, Cameroon via France, speaking in French
Jacob Chako — singer and songwriter, age 17, Democratic Republic of the Congo, speaking in Swahili
Mensur Hatic — accordionist, age 56, Bosnia, speaking in Bosnian
Bertha Nyirandagirwa Mihigo — singer, age 45, Democratic Republic of the Congo, speaking in Kinyamulenge
Esti Fernández — accordionist and singer, age 45, Spain, speaking in Spanish
Dal Magar — flutist, age 46, Nepal, speaking in Nepali
Khaled Hussein — singer, age 61, Iraq, speaking in Arabic
Lawrence Gitau — pianist, age 50, Kenya, speaking in Swahili
Organized by musician Louis Wall, The Texas Room is a resource for immigrants and refugees in St. Louis that uses music publishing and performance to enable artistic dialogue across social borders.
