Drummers and dancers from the Pyramid Lake Paiute Tribe, north of Reno, are among more than two dozen artists worldwide who appear in Peter Gabriel's video remake of "Biko.”
One of the tribal drummers featured in the video is Wakan-Waci Blindman.
"I didn't know really what I was signing up for,” Blindman said. “I was unfamiliar with Peter Gabriel.”
British rock star Peter Gabriel first recorded "Biko" 40 years ago protesting racism. The song is his tribute to South African anti-apartheid activist Steve Biko who was killed in police custody in 1977.
This new version was released as part of Black History Month and, among others, includes world-renowned cellist Yo-Yo Ma and Beninese singer Angélique Kidjo.
The video also features dancers dressed in traditional Paiute regalia stepping to the beat of the drum. Blindman says it was filmed about five months ago at the powwow grounds in Wadsworth, about 30 minutes east of Reno.
"For most natives across the country, we haven't been able to come together in our ceremonies and then to be able to come and do this, it made our hearts feel good — especially on that day, October 12, 2020, was Indigenous People's Day,” he said.
He says the video helps shed light on global human-rights issues.
"We can be better for one another, to one another to make the world a better place so that we don't have to be afraid,” he said.
So far, the video has more than 780,000 YouTube views.
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