Around the last week of every semester, you will start to see silly posters up around campus. They will have a strange photo or illustration, with an incredibly strange word on them. You will wonder what they are referencing and what they mean. I’m here to explain just that so you can tell all your friends to come with you to JAMBO.
WHAT?
Ok, so what exactly is Jambo? Jambo is a performance where all of the a cappella groups come together to perform songs they’ve been working on throughout the semester. The best thing about Jambo is that each year it is hosted by a different group, and they come up with a theme for the performance. They usually write a short skit that ties together the performances, and sometimes there are even extra performances added in. Some of my favorites have been Jambachelor, where all of the a cappella groups dressed up in formal wear to compete for the rose from a member of offbeat, and Pitch Pambo, where we performed the mash-off from the movie Pitch Perfect and Grapevine dressed up like the Bellas, with their signature bandanas. Jamboard Meeting (everyone dressed in business casual) and Shrambo (Shrek-themed) were also highly memorable. Whichever group is hosting can pick whatever theme they want, but you have to find some way to make the name fit with Jambo!
WHO?
All of the Swarthmore a cappella groups perform at JAMBO! There are four a cappella groups at swat, and they all have a certain vibe that sets them apart from the others. Mixed Company is swat’s oldest co-ed a cappella group. They are a larger a cappella group and sing a lot of classics within their really positive and welcoming community. Sixteen Feet is an all lower voices group, consisting of eight singers who all show up to all their performances with their iconic look of plaid shirts and bare feet. Grapevine is a newer group that is made up of womxn+ members, self-identified as the fruitiest a cappella group. And then there’s Offbeat (my group!), swat’s newest co-ed a cappella group! I love what a vibrant and supportive a cappella culture swat has. One of the really special things about Swarthmore a cappella is that every group arranges its own music. Every semester students within the groups vote on new songs, arrange them for a cappella, audition a soloist, and learn them as a group. It’s a lot of work, but the end of semester performances really make it worth it. No matter what you’re looking for, there’s a group at swat for you!
WHERE?
Jambo usually takes place either in Lang Concert Hall or Sci 101, the biggest lecture hall on campus. Both spaces are easily converted to a cappella performance spaces as Swaudio, the student-run audio tech crew at swat, is incredible at managing micing and sound mixing in these spaces. I’ve also had a cappella concerts in the Friends Meeting House, the Quaker Meeting House on campus, which is a really incredible space to perform in.
WHEN?
Jambo happens at the end of every semester! It is usually scheduled early on in reading week, which can make it a little stressful for performers as everyone’s stressed about finals, but having the chance to perform with your best friends can be a really good way to focus on something else and take a break from your work. Reading week also means that we get a really great crowd –Lang Concert Hall is always packed full for JAMBO! It’s really fun to see so many people from so many different communities across campus come together to support their friends.
WHY?
Ever since I saw Pitch Perfect, I knew I wanted to do a cappella in college. And a cappella is awesome. I’ve made friends with people I never would’ve met otherwise, I’ve had the opportunity to work on incredible music, and sing with my best friends in really fun spaces and concerts on campus. Jambo to me is the epitome of how, at swat, you can find your community of people doing the things you love, and even if it’s a little silly, there are a lot of people ready to join you and cheer you on.
