Music: connecting people when… languages differ?

By Reader in Baku

Two taxis. One in Yerevan and one in Baku. Passengers come and go. An alien, but strangely familiar, music plays.

“Arts can’t be mixed with politics”
“There should be no hatred in arts”
“I have never communicated with them”.
“Turn off the music”.
“People do not think the same as their representatives do”

Passengers voice their opinions. Maybe in any other setting their reactions might seem peculiar.

But…

The music being played in Yerevan is Azerbaijani. The music in Baku is Armenian.

This 12:59 minutes long (or rather short) video jointly shot by Armenian and Azerbaijani journalists best illustrates the atmosphere to be found in both countries. With relations spoilt some 20 years ago now, how passengers react to the music of the “enemy” is telling.

Both societies have become mostly driven by stereotypes, clichés and opinionated attitudes towards those neither have met or communicated with. This is the “accomplishment” of the traditional media which has done nothing but spread misinformation, ignite hatred and instill bias.

This is all doings of governments that do nothing but censor and threaten people with “dangers” of open communication. But then again, you can see some passengers are somehow far from nationalistic. Yes, they might seem protective, but not all are hateful.

The video does, however, end in a symbolic way. Armenian and Azerbaijani taxi drivers shake hands and exchange video tapes on neutral ground in Georgia. This is refreshing since, despite the propaganda and agitation, Armenians and Azerbaijanis can make contact on a personal level.

Free from bias and government control they can interact, exchange, blend with each other to such an extent that it is often difficult to tell who is who. But this symbolic ending also represents a sad reality.

For now, as spectators to a foul political charade, we can only meet each other anywhere else apart from in our own countries.

That said, there is also another reality not shown by this video. Another smaller reality behind the scenes. With alternative voices and social media bypassing biased traditional media to overcome stereotypes, a new generation is starting to emerge.

Tolerant and open, and willing to engage in open communication and dialogue, these are people who have been lucky and smart enough to realize that they all share common values and culture.

They are people who do not confine their minds to a dubious history, state borders and ethnicity. Indeed, we are so diverse and this diversity can enrich us. We are so similar and this similarity can connect us. Even though our languages differ.