Umoja: Anthem of Unity

• Coleman’s orchestral work Umoja was commissioned by the Philadelphia Orchestra, and was premiered by that ensemble on September 19, 2019. This premiere marked the first time the Philadelphia Orchestra performed a work by a living African-American woman.¹
• Coleman originally composed Umoja as a work for women’s choir. She also arranged it for her wind ensemble Imani Winds prior to the Philadelphia Orchestra’s commission.²

“In its original form, Umoja, the Swahili word for Unity and the first principle of the African Diaspora holiday Kwanzaa, was compose[ed as] a simple song for women’s choir. It embodied a sense of ‘tribal unity’, through the feel of a drum circle, the sharing of history through traditional ‘call and response’ form and the repetition of a memorable sing-song melody.”

From Valerie Coleman’s artist website³

“This version honors the simple melody that ever was, but is now a full exploration into the meaning of freedom and unity. Now more than ever, Umoja has to ring as a strong and beautiful anthem for the world we live in today.”

Valerie Coleman, on her orchestral version of Umoji⁴

1. Peter Dobrin, “Valerie Coleman’s stirring ‘Umoja’ is a Philadelphia Orchestra milestone: The first classical work by a living African American woman that they have performed,” The Philadelphia Inquirer (September 20, 2019), accessed June 11, 2021, https://www.inquirer.com/news/philadelphiaorchestrayannicknezetseguinvaleriecolemanhelenegrimaudbartokkimmelcenter-20190920.html.
2. “Umoja: Anthem of Unity for orchestra,” Valerie Coleman: Flutist and Composer, accessed June 11, 2021, https://www.vcolemanmusic.com/umoja-anthem-of-unity.html.
3. Ibid.
4. Ibid.