NO REST FOR THE AWAKE - MINAGAHET CHAMORRO

  Earlier this month, Siñot Kin "JC" Concepcion, who was an inspirational elder to me, but also a good friend passed away. I have spent the days since his passing reflecting on his impact on me and on the wider Chamoru/Guam community over the course of his life. The first time I really remember meeting and talking to Siñot Kin "JC" Concepcion was in 2014 when his family was pushing for the legalization of medical marijuana on Guam in honor of his son, the singer Savage K. The family had asked if I could sponsor a film screening at the University of Guam as part of their community campaign and I was very happy to do so. The love and loss he felt for his son who had died the year prior was powerful and manifest then and it remained so in all the time I knew him. For the next few years, I would regularly see Siñot Kin at KUAM, where he was sometimes interviewing me and sometimes producing others. I was thankful for what he was doing in terms of continuing to pr

Ever since I first began learning Chamoru my interest in Chamoru music has continually grown.  I grew up sometimes hearing Chamoru music, but couldn't understand it and didn't really connect with it.  But from the first time that I sat down with my grandmother at the dining room table and had her help me translate the CD "Chamorro Yu'" from Johnny Sablan, kinenne' yu'. I have been hooked.  To this end I have been collecting Chamoru music, whether in CD, cassette or vinyl form.  I've collected whatever I can from newspapers, magazines and scholarly sources related to Chamoru music.   I have also been fortunate enough to sit down with many musicians and talk to them about their experiences and why in a world where English dominates, they chose to record and release music in Chamoru. Last month I was very very luck, gof suettettette, to be able to pick up the album "Ai Saun Diroga" by Chamolinian II while searching for Chamoru music online.   Fr