Spreading Healing Tones

Photo Essay

Composer Hannibal Lokumbe visited the Morgan Village Academy in Camden, N.J during the school’s jazz band’s rehearsal to share his latest composition, and to encourage the students to invest in their gifts.

Lokumbe spoke to the students about his path toward composing his latest piece, “Healing Tones,” commissioned by the Philadelphia Orchestra.

Lokumbe spoke to the students about his path toward composing his latest piece, “Healing Tones,” commissioned by the Philadelphia Orchestra.

Students were given the opportunity to preview the sheet music for "Healing Tones."

Students were given the opportunity to preview the sheet music for "Healing Tones."

“I met God and she was black.” Lokumbe holds a photo of singer Funmike Lagoke, who will play the role of God in "Healing Tones"

“I met God and she was black.” Lokumbe holds a photo of singer Funmike Lagoke, who will play the role of God in "Healing Tones"

He spoke about black ancestry's connection to music. “This is what kept us alive—don’t ever forget it. When they didn’t have instruments they were the instruments."

He spoke about black ancestry's connection to music. “This is what kept us alive—don’t ever forget it. When they didn’t have instruments they were the instruments."

He encouraged the students to attend the performance at the Kimmel Center. “There are three ways I work," he said. "The visual, the text and the sound."

He encouraged the students to attend the performance at the Kimmel Center. “There are three ways I work," he said. "The visual, the text and the sound."

“Never, ever be ashamed of who you are and where you come from. All of the other stuff you’ll figure out."

“Never, ever be ashamed of who you are and where you come from. All of the other stuff you’ll figure out."

“This is the image of the everlasting.”

“This is the image of the everlasting.”

He spoke candidly about the realities of being black in America. “I don’t talk like this except to people I love,” he said.

He spoke candidly about the realities of being black in America. “I don’t talk like this except to people I love,” he said.

Lokumbe and his wife, Sumai, with the Morgan Village Academy Jazz Band. "Keep letting me know how you’re doing," he said. "I don’t care what’s going on, I’m going to always answer you.”

Lokumbe and his wife, Sumai, with the Morgan Village Academy Jazz Band. "Keep letting me know how you’re doing," he said. "I don’t care what’s going on, I’m going to always answer you.”

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