Women’s Hands On: Vivienne Aerts’ Musical Journey in Focus

Grab yourself a snack; a delicious chocolate bar. Listen as a song reels from the radio, that of a female songstress explodes into your heart. Enjoy this moment crafted by women. Women in whose hands anything can be made and created. We look into this in Women’s Hands-On.

Many commodities are birthed by the hands of women; some we may not expect. Women are breaking stereotypes; from art to music, food to even car design. Women work either on their own or together to bless the world with unique creations. It is Women’s Hands-On creativity.

Take, for example, Dutch vocalist, performer and composer Vivienne Aerts’s new album Typuhthâng, which portrays this. In fact, it collaborates with The Femmes de Virunga, women involved in the cocoa trade in The Democratic Republic of Congo. The power of women’s hands-on approach is evident in every field, including starting and managing businesses.. Together with Original Beans Chocolate, they all initiated this cacao farm collective of 1500 women in 2008.

These women are often victimized and routinely left to undertake hard agricultural labour. But, Original Beans is helping elevate their standard of living. Indeed, by cultivating their crops, they cultivate their communities.

But it’s not only about chocolate. Indeed, the album aims to empower women. Typhuthâng will release on International Women’s Day, on March 8^th, 2023.

Moreover, the album features 100 female musicians from over 40 countries. Additionally, it has samples from soundscapes from Virunga State Park fields. Furthermore, Aerts utilizes this authentic music to raise awareness of the project. Instead of looking for charity, it rather aims to generate business.

“Let’s make an album that sells their chocolate. Chocolate and music are a magical combination, right?”

Vivienne Aerts

The album will be available physically and digitally. Besides, if ordered physically, buyers will get a bar of chocolate with the album. Moreover, the initial pressing of 500 exclusive copies will feature Cacao nib paper and screen print.