Music for the People - "Love Your Language" by Karen News

Music for the People - "Love Your Language" from Karen News on Vimeo.

A group of Karen refugee musicians and artists have got together to
paint, write and sing about their hurts, love and their revolution.
The group got together in 2006 determined to change the misconception
that refugees are nothing more than a needy rabble. Kweh Say, a
founding member of the group, Thoe Tau Bweh Music Village, spoke to
Karen News about why the group was formed.
“People think refugees are nothing. They’re hopeless, they have no
future, but we say no! We have a future and we are building hope, not
with weapons but with art, singing and writing. We are the new
generation, we stay, we change and we create.”
Thoe Tau Bweh Music Village, is a non-profit music team, which aims to
help the Karen community and to promote and encourage young people who
are talented.
Poe Taw, a multi-talented member of the group, says they support the
Karen freedom fighters and many of their songs are dedicated to them.
“Our soldiers are brave. They do it for the love of the people – they
fight for the right reasons, so we can peace and dignity.”
Kweh Say explains that Thoe Tau Bweh translates from Sgaw Karen as a
‘new land that has emerged from the ocean’.
Kweh Say explains that TTB MV operates as a collective and no member
is more responsible than any other or is any activity.
“We work together, are happy together. We plan together. Every one of
our team has the rank of ‘one star’, we’re all treated equally. Every
member has to treat each other equally and respectfully by the
‘principle of love’ - not by the principal of pride"