For three years now, Bangalore has been Armel Ayegnon’s home away from home. Hailing from Benin in West Africa, this BBM student from Christ University finds it, “the best place to upgrade my knowledge. The quality is good and far better than other cities in my country and here, too.”
Ayegnon is also a talented musician. A kora (African instrument) player, he says Bangalore is a melting pot of many cultures. “The city has an amalgamation of music genres, which helps a young musician like me a lot. It also throws up numerous opportunities for music professionals as well as students.”
He singles out the practical knowledge taught in the Indian institutes as something extraordinary. It has been a fruitful three years with him falling in love with the Indian culture.
“I started liking the country as soon as I came here. I learnt so many different things here and the diversity of all fields amazes me. Still, they all merge together seamlessly to form a single entity. Even the people here are so good to be with. Though I was a little apprehensive at the beginning of my stay, soon I started feeling at home,” beams Ayegnon.
It, however, is not all work and no fun for him. “I have a lot of friends, both from my country and India, with whom I hang out often. The Forum Mall is our favourite, as it has all kinds of entertainment, food and shopping options. We also frequent coffee shops and movies whenever we find time,” he explains.
He never misses out any music shows. Be it a rock show, a traditional concert or light music, he attends everything. “The city has the perfect atmosphere for any budding musician. It’s a great advantage living in this city, as you can get to attend music events of various genres,” adds Ayegnon.
The city has also offered him several happy memories. “Especially, the annual fest organised by our college. We get to produce shows, plays, music events and many other interesting programmes. I like it a lot and look forward to it every year, as it offers a platform to exhibit our abilities. It also helps us mingle with others easily,” he concludes.
— chokkappan@expressbuzz.com