Neta and Amit: artists who bring communities together
February 26, 2024
The worlds of music, art, and culture can serve as a tool for those who want to showcase their heritage across the globe. Two multidisciplinary artists who possess the ability to bring communities together with their talent, have taken up residence at Xavier this year. Neta Elkayam, a singer and performer of Moroccan-North African pop and jazz music, and Amit Hai Cohen, a musician, composer, curator, and filmmaker in multiple forms of media have brought their creative abilities to the Xavier community.
“We grew up far from centers of education and economy, so the tool that was most available to us was art, which has always been a powerful tool for social justice and activism,” Cohen said.
“It allows us to amplify voices and shed light on important issues. Through our performances and creative projects, we strive to address topics such as cultural identity, social inequality, and human rights, fostering dialogue between our fractured communities – Amazigh, Muslims, and Jews,” Cohen said.
Both Elkayam and Cohen come from a Jewish North African background, an experience that has become vital to their art and characterization. The area they grew up in consisted of multiple cultures and communities. Their performances include both Arabic and Hebrew.
“We were born in the periphery of Israel in a small place called Netivot, where most of the population consists of immigrants coming from North Africa in the 1950s. In such places, one feels more immersed in North African culture than in Israeli culture,” Elkayam said.
“It was only when we moved to the big city, Jerusalem, that we mingled and got to know other communities. Jews who came from all over the world, from Africa to Europe, as well as Christians and Muslims compared to many other cities, Jerusalem. Despite the efforts of the authorities to divide it into parts, it is very cosmopolitan and diverse, and we love that,” Elkayam added.
The inspiration and foundation for their artistry can be traced back many generations. Their Moroccan-Amazigh-Jewish grandparents and great-grandparents left their thousands-year-old homelands to fulfill a religious and spiritual dream of arriving in the Holy Land. However, the environment in which they found themselves was dismissive of their North African values, culture, and spirit, of which Elkayam and Cohen’s work is trying to revive today.
“Our challenge now is to amplify this voice, which seeks not domination but inclusion and coexistence,” Cohen said. “The ongoing Middle East conflict is something we were born into, not something we chose, but we must not accept it as something that cannot be changed. Our history in Africa, even if it was not optimal all the time, proves that everything is possible. We must prioritize the values that we learned from home and from our Judaism over national values,” Cohen added.
In addition to the North African generational culture the two artists received, there was also an inclusion of Western influence involved in their artistic development.
“We grew up in environments characterized by a rich fusion of Eastern and Western influences, where American culture intertwined with Middle Eastern heritage. We watched MTV and played in rock bands, while also participating in North African family events filled with popular Moroccan music. English is our third language, after Hebrew and Moroccan-Arabic (Darija),” Elkayam said.
Ultimately, Cohen’s and Elkayam’s growing relationship with American culture would lead them to the U.S., where they would join Xavier to teach the unique intersection of being Jewish, African and Moroccan. They discussed how the city was a unique environment compared to other parts of the country, while also discussing some adjustments they faced as artists-in-residence.
“Compared to our previous visits to America, New Orleans feels like an island with its own rules. There is something very laid-back here, with many local businesses and people eager to strike up a conversation quickly. The rhythm of life here plays a unique melody, feels home,” Cohen said.
The artists, who are married with two sons, have been able to share their journey here at Xavier as part of the BAMAH Visiting Artist Program. This spring semester, the instruct a course on Global Media infused with the intersection of entertainment and culture from their region.
(Photo by Ja’lyn Jones)
“After ten years of artistic and musical projects, we were invited to Xavier by a program called ‘Bamah’ (Stage in Hebrew). We accepted the invitation with pleasure because we are always eager to share our knowledge, love new encounters, and New Orleans seemed fascinating to us both musically and culturally,” Elkayam said.
Students who are taking the course said the artists provide a unique perspective on the importance of global art and its potential for social justice.
“This course has shown me how media can be a tool of uniting people from all over the world. One thing I really took away from this class is how the power of media goes beyond the language it is written in. I’ve been moved by songs from this course that weren’t even English because of the feeling they carry,” said Phoenix McCall, a senior, mass communication major, who aspires to work in the entertainment industry.
Cohen and Elkayam hope to continue to make an impact on the world through their artistic abilities and mix of heritage and background. They want to connect with the local community, culture, and audience in New Orleans. In addition, they want their message to be heard by both current and future generations around the world.
“Listen deeply, empathize widely, and act with compassion. Remember, music recalls what history often forgets. Let’s continue showcasing what’s no longer visible and create a sound where it is absent,” Cohen said.
