We welcome the African Music Library to MEC’s blog series. The organisation's mission is to create an expansive and far-reaching database and archive of African music. It features pre-eminent and underground artists from various genres closely linked to the continent while unveiling the storied but under-appreciated histories of African music from a hyper-local to the global context.
In addition to archiving, the organisation does album reviews, profiles and features on African music and musicians; they’re also keenly focused on educating readers about African musical instruments.
In this blog, Anu Onasanya details her work with one of the organisation's main projects, Foster. Its vision is “...to create a future where every child in Africa, regardless of their social and economic background, has the opportunity to experience the transformative power of music education.” They partner with schools in Africa to provide music lessons as well as musical instruments - many of them provided through donations from other like-minded programmes. Crucially, they advocate and raise awareness of the importance of music education in young people’s lives.
African Music Library/Foster and Music Education Council's values align: access to music education is crucial not least for people from under-represented communities, such as those of the global majority.
Anu writes…
In 2022, a passionate group of music industry professionals and researchers recognized a significant gap in the availability of accurate and comprehensive information on African music and its talented creators. In response, our founders saw a need to create a central repository for reliable information about African music and its creators and to make this information accessible to the global audience. This need marked the inception of the African Music Library.
The African Music Library kicked off by compiling comprehensive and accurate metadata for all licensed African music. Additionally, we undertook the documentation of various African music genres, instruments, and ensembles.
During our documentation process, we observed a widening knowledge gap in African music. This gap has contributed to the limited knowledge and in some cases, the extinction of some African musical styles and instruments. To address this and ensure that the younger generation gains a deep understanding of African music, as well as to preserve African music knowledge, we have launched the Foster program.
Though the Foster program by the African Music Library seeks to close the African music knowledge gap, we are also committed to bringing the gift of music education to underserved children in disadvantaged African communities, helping them realize and pursue their artistic aspirations.
At Foster, our mission is to raise a new generation of confident and resilient individuals who possess a deep understanding and appreciation for African music, with well-developed musical skills and knowledge to pursue their artistic aspirations.
The main beneficiaries of the Foster program are underserved school children, especially those attending government- and private-owned primary schools catering to low-income families.
Considering the UNICEF framework, education standards offered in disadvantaged African communities lack co-curricular subjects like music and arts. As a result, there is a widening opportunity gap, resulting in high rates of social exclusion and a life of misery for some. The Foster program by AML seeks to close this gap by bringing free music education to these children.
The children’s transformative learning journey is supported using a well-researched, children-focused, and professionally designed 3-part curriculum. The curriculum, consisting of Appreciation, Theory, and Application parts, runs alongside the school academic calendar and covers diverse aspects of African music. These areas include theory, history, instrument play, vocal training, music icons, festivals, and ensemble performances, among other bodies of knowledge.
At Foster by the African Music Library, we remain committed to leveraging the power of music to help African children develop lifelong skills while enjoying the benefits of learning music. These benefits include improving academic performance, minimizing free time or interest to participate in crime, and creating opportunities for African children to express their creativity and learn lifelong skills early in life. We envision a future where every child in Africa, regardless of their socio-economic background, experiences the transformative power of music.
Foster music education kicked off in June 2023 at a Government-owned school in Lagos, Nigeria. And within the year, we've onboarded two other schools - Abeokuta, the capital city of Ogun state in Nigeria, and Jinja in Uganda.
At our pilot school, after just three weeks of the Foster classes, we saw a notable improvement in school attendance. We also observed a remarkable 50 - 60% improvement in self-esteem among the participating pupils. There was a noticeable 20% reduction in behavioral problems such as name-calling, distractions, and scuffles in class, thus fostering a more conducive and respectful learning environment for the pupils. We also observed improved social skills as pupils from different grades took classes together. So, the age difference barrier was quickly overcome, thus facilitating beneficial interactions in the classes. Other skills we've seen a marginal increase in creativity, critical thinking, and problem-solving skills among the pupils in the last year.
Many African children can benefit from the Foster program but our reach is limited in manpower and resources. These are ways you can support: Financial Support, Volunteering, Donation of Instruments and other Resources, and Advocacy and Awareness. You can send us an email at librarian@africanmusiclibrary.org or any of our social media pages: @AMLbyJosplay
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