Culture

Art in blood and a mike in her hand

By Zhao Yanrong (China Daily)
Updated: 2010-06-04 08:00

Fariba Laiberte moved to Beijing to cut her first album, resolute in her belief that there would be more possibilities in the Chinese capital.

Armed with a bike and map, the 28-year-old said she first managed to travel the entire city in only two weeks, stopping only to sleep at couch-surfing homes. Through this group she also managed to pick up her first job, teaching English at Beijing International Studies University.

"There are definitely more opportunities in Beijing, but chances don't come easily," she told METRO.

Laiberte said she went on to try many jobs. When Beijing's galleries have parties, she sang for them. A couple of weeks ago, she performed as an African dancer at an event held by an Italian fashion company. And most recently she acted as the English language judge of a Chinese company's training program.

"It's Beijing. You never know when and how you will get an opportunity. You just need to be patient and persistent."

Before she moved to China in early 2008, Laiberte had traveled to more than 30 countries.

"I love traveling because it helps me to learn more about life. Sometimes, it's good to step out of our own life and witness others'."

Laiberte was born in the Democratic Republic of the Congo and raised in a traditional artist family. She moved to Canada when she was 14.

Her mother was the fifth generation artist in her family. However, Laiberte never got the chance to learn any particular skills from her. She might not have much art education, but Fariba said it's in her blood.

"My parents never told me what I should do, but they always encouraged me to push for what I wanted to be. I won confidence from their encouragement," she said. "I am confident about my talents in music and painting."

Q & A

Q: You have traveled to more than 30 countries, so why did you decide to come to China?

A: My father and stepmother moved to Qingdao in Shandong province three years ago. They were always telling me how great their life was in China.

At that time I was actually planning a travel trip to the southern central America. I decided to make a short stay to visit my family in China but I ended up staying.

Q: What brought you to Beijing?

A: I had an idea for my first album after those three months in Qingdao. Since it was too difficult to make an album there, I decided it would be better to find a producer in Beijing. So I came.

But I didn't know a producer here so I asked a translator to talk to everyone walking the campus of Beijing International Studies University.

I finally found a guy who called his friend, who then left me with a number of someone else. That was my first album's producer. He did a great job on my first album.

Q: What's your first album about?

A: The songs are about the prayers of Bahai, my belief. I believe that the highest status of people's live is to serve humanity.

I was born in Africa when my parents worked for a humanitarian organization there and we moved to Laos for the same reason when I was 7. I feel good about helping people and contributing myself to the global community.

I have visited more than 30 countries and most of them were in developing areas where most Westerners would not visit. I have seen different things and experienced various cultures and ethnic groups. That's more important for my life.