For 150 years, the Fisk Jubilee Singers of Nashville’s Fisk University have been introducing and sustaining the tradition of the Negro spiritual—a critical musical tradition of African American culture and history—to the world.
Since the first choral ensemble was organized in 1871, the Fisk Jubilee Singers have traveled the world singing songs sacred to them and so many others, while raising money for Fisk University. Today, the ensemble (comprised of Fisk University students selected annually through an audition process) continues to travel globally, representing not only Fisk University but Music City at large while protecting, celebrating, and continuing an extraordinary legacy.
Leading the historic Fisk Jubilee Singers is Dr. Paul Kwami: a former Jubilee Singer himself who moved to Nashville in 1983 from his native Ghana to study music at Fisk. Since being named musical director nearly 28 years ago, Dr. Kwami has taken on the responsibility as his life’s mission. His passion is evident in his careful instruction, which has helped lead the group to achieve tremendous success: winning their first Grammy Award and performing for presidents and royalty in some of the world’s most historic music venues. Though he tells his story kindly and humbly, Dr. Kwami’s impact is nothing short of powerful.
College Days: When I became a Fisk Jubilee Singer, it was only then that I got to learn about the history of the ensemble. I got to learn about the sacrifices that these young Black students made, those who belonged to the first ensemble. I found it very amazing, very interesting, that young Black students right as slavery had ended would go out singing to raise funds for their university. It was an amazing thing for me to discover, and to be part of that legacy was a very humbling position for me. I was honored to become a member of the ensemble because I knew this was an opportunity for me to represent Fisk University wherever we went and performed.
The Student Becomes the Teacher: When I was a student, I wanted to continue with my graduate studies and had no plans to return to Fisk. A fellow Fisk Jubilee Singer who was also a music student walked up to me one day and said, “Paul, one day you will become the director of the Fisk Jubilee Singers.” My reaction was one of laughter because I knew that I had completely different plans. After completing my master’s program, I returned to Nashville. One day the chair of the music department at the time, who had taught me when I was a student, called asking if I was available to work with the Fisk Jubilee Singers until the end of the academic year, so I said, “I’ll give it a try.” Because the position was open, I applied and was given the opportunity to direct the ensemble. I believe that happened because this chair of the department knew my abilities when I was a student. I remember how well she encouraged me several times and I believe that’s why she invited me. [This role] means a lot because I think about all the generations of Fisk students who have been part of this legacy since 1871, and all the musical directors because they helped to sustain the legacy. Finding myself in this position becomes my responsibility to preserve the legacy; to help young people to know and understand the legacy; to know and understand the values of the music that the Fisk Jubilee Singers introduced to the world and continue to sing. It’s honestly a very challenging position because it is my responsibility to maintain a certain standard of performance and to keep the legacy alive.
Intentional Instruction: Every song the Fisk Jubilee Singers sing has a message. When we sing these songs today, we talk about the historical significance of each. We talk about the lyrics and how the messages relate to us today. That helps my students develop an emotional attachment to each song. The music they perform comes out of their spirit. I believe that any singer or musician performing—whether it’s on an instrument or singing—that musician must add his or her emotion to the music for it to have an effect on the audience.
Big Wins: It’s a desire that I’ve had for several years for the Fisk Jubilee Singers to win a Grammy: There is no other ensemble with this name and with such a legacy. The day it was announced that we had won a Grammy I was extremely happy, but it put me in a position where I also realized immediately that I still have the responsibility of preserving the legacy of the Fisk Jubilee Singers. It put me in a position of gratitude. I am very thankful for the people who chose to work with us and help us win the Grammy. It wasn’t just the [group]; there were several other people who teamed up with us to make this happen, including our fans all around the world.
Attitude of Gratitude: I am very thankful to Fisk University, as an institution, for helping to preserve this legacy. And of course, I am very thankful for our students. Fisk is a place that I describe as a family, and we have very intelligent students. Those who become Fisk Jubilee Singers always have the desire to represent Fisk well, and I am very thankful for them because they are always part of this story of success. I’m very proud of them. My favorite thing about teaching in general is being there for students, helping students succeed in life. When I help a student to succeed, I know that I am fulfilling my responsibilities as an educator. It’s one of the greatest things for me to see students succeed. It gives me great joy.
A Lasting Legacy: I want the world to realize the importance of the Fisk Jubilee Singers to the music culture not only of Tennessee, not only of the United States, but of the whole world. In 1871 when the original group introduced their music to the world, it helped people like me while living in Ghana to learn the Negro spirituals, to sing them in schools, to play them on the piano. I want the world to come to know, even today, that the Fisk Jubilee Singers form a very important part of the culture of the world.