By Ibrahim S. Bangura
The Ballanta Academy of Music and Performing Arts (BAMPA) at 27 Liverpool Street in Freetown, has on Wednesday July 24, 2024, signed a Memorandum of Understanding (MOU) with the ‘Playing for Change Foundation’ (PFCF) to help promote arts education in Sierra Leone.
The formal signing of the MOU took place at the Academy, with Dr. Julius Spencer, Chairman of Ballanta, signing on behalf of the Academy and representatives from Playing for Change Foundation, and others.
According to Dr. Spencer, the purpose of the agreement is for Playing for Change to support Ballanta promote Arts education and creativity in Sierra Leone.
“The foundation is supporting the Academy to give free tuition to young people in music, dance, theatre, and film production. They believe that arts can help change society,” explained Dr. Spencer. He says that after signing the MOU, Sierra Leone will be the 24th country the Foundation would be operating.
“PFCF usually supports institutions in different forms, including financial support, instruments, etc. which are all aimed at developing communities,” he said.
Dr. Spencer went on to say that the World Monuments Fund is expected to restore the Old Fourah Bay College Building at Cline Town in the east of Freetown as a music hub.
“This building will be the second part of Ballanta Academy. The foundation will support us to buy equipment, set us up with the aim of providing free training for Artists in music. The building will have a music recording studio, classrooms, auditorium for performance, library, event space, among other incredible facilities. This is all happening as a way to support the community to access the opportunity free of charge,” said Dr. Spencer.
Ballanta Academy of Music is the first music school in Sierra Leone with a vision to be a worldwide inspiration for the development and promotion of West African music and dance. It aims at providing first class classical and modern music tuition for the people of Sierra Leone and beyond. The Academy offers courses in voice, guitar, piano, dance, keyboard, seven drums, etc. It is also offering music classes on the West African Senior School Certificate Examination (WASSCE) and will soon introduce a course in theatre. The Academy prepares students for the practical music examinations of the Associated Board of the Royal Schools of Music (ABRSM) and the Music Teachers Board (MTB) in the UK, which are taken online. ‘Playing for Change Foundation’ is an organization that was founded in 2007 to create positive change through music and arts education. The foundation usually works with marginalized youth in diverse communities around the world, primarily located in low and lower-middle income countries.