THE AFRICANA PROJECT

The Africana Project is a partnership with the Brooklyn Music Teachers' Guild (BMTG), the Patricia F. Robinson Music Studio in Bedford Stuyvesant, Brooklyn, and musician Elijah Kiwalabye of Kampala, Uganda.

THE BEGINNING
Several months ago, musician Elijah Kiwalabye of Kampala, Uganda, heard a musical composition written by BMTG President Alexander Peskanov called "Africana." Mr. Kiwalabye found Mr. Peskanov on Facebook and requested the music for his music students. Since then, a partnership was formed.

Mr. Kiwalabye, an exceptionally talented musician and teacher, has a goal to provide his students with an internationally based music education that will consist of Western and African instruments and music. He also desires to build a music academy, and BMTG and the Patricia F. Robinson Music Studio intend to help him in his goal. 

"SISTER CITIES"
We established a cultural exchange called "Sister Cities." The Brooklyn music students have had a "Meet and Greet" with the children of Kampala on Zoom. The exchange was wonderful and extremely informative. They have also had their first workshop where the students of Kampala taught the Brooklyn students about the instruments they use in Uganda. In the next workshop, the Brooklyn students will talk about their instruments. Both groups of students are looking forward to many more workshops.

BEYOND THE CLASSROOM
The educational exchange is way beyond the classroom. For example, one of the students from Kampala, Leah, wrote lyrics to "Africana." Mr. Peskanov is currently publishing the music with the lyrics and assisting Leah in becoming a member of ASCAP!  

BRIDGING THE WORLD THROUGH MUSIC 
There will be four concerts. The first concert, a fundraiser for the project, will be a live performance with the Brooklyn students and a video of the Kampala students in New York fall of 2021. The Brooklyn students will travel to Kampala for the second concert in the spring of 2022. For the third and fourth concerts, the Kampala students will travel to New York. The third concert—already reserved—will be at Carnegie Hall on July 2, 2022. And the fourth will be a fundraiser for the music academy.

HOW YOU CAN SUPPORT
You can make a tax-deductible donation to BMTG's - Africana Project campaign.