Visit his website at LiorViolin.com.
We did this interview via email:
How did this tour come about?
I was sent by the ‘Soul Train’ Israeli organization. It sends Israeli artists to bring Judaism and Israel through art to small and far-flung communities around the world. In this tour I visited South Africa, Zimbabwe and Namibia. It was a busy tour. I had a flight and performance almost every day for about two weeks. I performed in Bloemfontein, Kimberly, Oudsourn, Port Elizabeth, Durban, Bulawayo, Harare and Windhoek. Some were solo performances, others were with local musicians from each city. This is my third Soul Train tour: Last year I went to Idaho, Utah, Montana and Wyoming. The first one (couple years ago) was to Yugoslavia and Croatia.
Had you been to Africa before?
First time.
Did this experience change you in any way?
It was an amazing experience to visit Jewish communities outside of the mainstream where each person really counts – some communities still survive thank to a one person that makes it all happen. They welcomed me and appreciated it very much. In such places a good quality of performance may be very rare, and even more rare a lively Jewish performance.
What surprised you on your tour?
Every country caught my eye in different aspects:
South Africa – Unexpected cultural collision with Zulu dancers.
Zimbabwe – ‘real Africa’: Poor people although extremely nice, without much crime.
Namibia – ‘Safari’ – In such a busy tour I didn’t have proper time to go on safari but in my last three hours of my visit before coming back to LA, I drove an hour to a safari, had about 45 minutes to see various wild animals such as leopord, babuns, Tchita and more and then drove back an hour to catch my flight on time.
Any highlights or lowlights you’d care to share for my blog?
I feel alive when I am touring, puts together so many things I love in such a small period of time: Judaism, music, performing, people (hosted by people, not in boring hotels!), touring, new cultures, flights and more. An amazing experience, looking forward to my next one.
Part two:
An unexpected cultural collision – Zulu dancers invite Israeli violinist Lior Kaminetsky to play African music. The performance took place in Durban, South Africa, August 2009.
