Song for Africa
Encyclopedia
Song for Africa is a Canadian non-profit organization founded in 2006 by music and movie producer Darcy Ataman. The organization is founded on the belief that music has the power to create sustainable change in the developing world. It specializes in giving people the opportunity to give a voice to their struggles and trauma. Participants in the Song for Africa Music Enrichment Program learn how to write, perform, produce, and disseminate their music on the local radio. Song for Africa is currently working in Kenya, Rwanda, and the Democratic Republic of the Congo.
In partnership with Free The Children
and CARE Kenya, the first Song for Africa documentary captured everyday stories of communities deeply affected by HIV/AIDS. The film featured Ian D’Sa (Billy Talent
), Damhnait Doyle
, Luke McMaster
and Simon Wilcox
, who traveled to Kenya in the summer of 2007.
A second documentary in 2009, Rwanda: Rises Up!
, focused on the resilience of the Rwandan nation and the staggering progress made since the genocide in 1994. The accompanying full length album (released by Sony Music) featured an impressive roster of Canadian artists including Sarah Slean
, Steve Bays (Hot Hot Heat
), Damhnait Doyle
and Tim Edwards
(Crash Parallel
) who participated in the film, as well as Ian D’Sa (Billy Talent
), Cone McCaslin (Sum 41
/Operation MD), Classified
, and The Trews
.
Darcy Ataman has continued to travel to Rwanda and more recently to the Democratic Republic of the Congo
in order to develop partnerships for the Song for Africa Music Enrichment Program. Potential partnerships with programs working with child soldiers together with Roméo Dallaire's
Child Soldier Initiative have been explored, as well as one with the Panzi Hospital
The program uses music as the medium and method to deliver interactive seminars to teach HIV/AIDS material more effectively than in a traditional lecture model. Facilitators lead the MEP music seminars, which provide unique opportunities for facilitators to share information on issues affecting the participant’s lives such as HIV/AIDS (and other illnesses outlined in the Millennium Development Goals
framework) and the traumas associated with war. The education of the participants has a subsequent effect of increasing dialogue between the participants and their families and communities.
Concurrently, SFA’s Music Enrichment Program involves participants in cooperatively creating music, which aims to develop participants’ leadership and group work skills and builds self confidence. These skills allow participants to share their experiences with their peers, their families, and their communities. These life skills are tools that are needed to transform the world around the participants, allowing them to communicate accurately and meaningfully to their peers and communities and convey powerful potent messages through culturally accepted and culturally powerful modes of communication.
The SFA Music Enrichment Program seminars include music enrichment activities, writing master classes, and professional recording sessions with both local and international producers, engineers, and performing artists.
History
In the spring of 2006 several Canadian musicians came together to write and record the single Song for Africa to raise awareness of the AIDS pandemic in Africa. Following the premiere at the International AIDS Conference in Toronto, the non-profit organization ‘Song for Africa’ (SFA) emerged as a way for participating artists to further promote efforts in the fight against HIV/AIDS.In partnership with Free The Children
Free The Children
Free The Children is an international charity and youth movement founded in 1995 by children's rights advocate Craig Kielburger. The organization is largely youth-funded, based on the concept of "children helping children." It specializes in sustainable development in countries of Kenya, Ecuador,...
and CARE Kenya, the first Song for Africa documentary captured everyday stories of communities deeply affected by HIV/AIDS. The film featured Ian D’Sa (Billy Talent
Billy Talent
Billy Talent is a Canadian post-hardcore band from Streetsville, Ontario. They formed in 1993 with Ben Kowalewicz as the lead vocalist, Ian D'Sa on lead guitar, bassist Jon Gallant and drummer Aaron Solowoniuk ....
), Damhnait Doyle
Damhnait Doyle
Damhnait Doyle [DAV-net] is a Canadian pop singer. The phonetic spelling of her first name also serves as the title of her 2003 album. Her most recent album, Lights Down Low, is a collection of covers...
, Luke McMaster
Luke McMaster
Luke Mcmaster is a Canadian singer, songwriter and musician.With a lifelong commitment to music, McMaster experienced early success as one half of a music duo from Winnipeg, Manitoba, Canada, McMaster and James, named after McMaster and his performing partner, Rob James. Despite initial success,...
and Simon Wilcox
Simon Wilcox
-Early life:Born in Hamilton, Ontario, Canada, Wilcox is the daughter of multi-media artist Sadia Sadia and Canadian rock musician David Wilcox. She is also the great niece of Canadian political scientist John Meisel. At the age of three, she was placed with a female friend of the family in...
, who traveled to Kenya in the summer of 2007.
A second documentary in 2009, Rwanda: Rises Up!
Song for Africa - Rwanda: Rises Up!
Song for Africa - Rwanda: Rises Up! is a Canadian charity album by the Song for Africa organization. The album is an accompanying soundtrack to the charity fund's latest Rwanda documentary which documents the visit to Rwanda by the Canadian super group of Steve Bays of Hot Hot Heat, Tim Edwards of...
, focused on the resilience of the Rwandan nation and the staggering progress made since the genocide in 1994. The accompanying full length album (released by Sony Music) featured an impressive roster of Canadian artists including Sarah Slean
Sarah Slean
Sarah Hope Slean is a Canadian singer-songwriter, musician, poet, and occasional actress from Pickering, Ontario. She has released eleven albums to date .-Major recordings:...
, Steve Bays (Hot Hot Heat
Hot Hot Heat
Hot Hot Heat is a Canadian indie rock band formed in 1999 from Victoria, British Columbia, Canada.-Career:Dustin Hawthorne and Steve Bays had been in many different bands together since 1995 and met Hawley in 1998. In 1999, Hawley bought a Juno 6 keyboard and asked Bays to try playing it, as no one...
), Damhnait Doyle
Damhnait Doyle
Damhnait Doyle [DAV-net] is a Canadian pop singer. The phonetic spelling of her first name also serves as the title of her 2003 album. Her most recent album, Lights Down Low, is a collection of covers...
and Tim Edwards
Tim Edwards
Timothy Edwards is a former English cricketer, who played first-class and List A cricket for Worcestershire and minor counties cricket for Cornwall...
(Crash Parallel
Crash Parallel
Crash Parallel is an alternative band from Mississauga, Ontario, Canada who have been compared to Lifehouse, Counting Crows, the Fray, Coldplay, and David Gray. Their debut album, World We Know, was released May 6, 2008 and includes the first single and title track, "World We...
) who participated in the film, as well as Ian D’Sa (Billy Talent
Billy Talent
Billy Talent is a Canadian post-hardcore band from Streetsville, Ontario. They formed in 1993 with Ben Kowalewicz as the lead vocalist, Ian D'Sa on lead guitar, bassist Jon Gallant and drummer Aaron Solowoniuk ....
), Cone McCaslin (Sum 41
Sum 41
Sum 41 is a Canadian rock band from Ajax, Ontario. The band was formed in 1996 and currently consists of members Deryck Whibley , Tom Thacker , Jason McCaslin and Steve Jocz .In 1999, the band signed an international record deal with Island Records...
/Operation MD), Classified
Classified (rapper)
Luke Boyd , professionally known as Classified, is a Canadian rapper and producer from Enfield, Nova Scotia.-Career:...
, and The Trews
The Trews
The Trews are a Canadian rock band from Antigonish, Nova Scotia, consisting of vocalist Colin MacDonald, guitarist John-Angus MacDonald, bassist Jack Syperek, and drummer Sean Dalton...
.
Darcy Ataman has continued to travel to Rwanda and more recently to the Democratic Republic of the Congo
Democratic Republic of the Congo
The Democratic Republic of the Congo is a state located in Central Africa. It is the second largest country in Africa by area and the eleventh largest in the world...
in order to develop partnerships for the Song for Africa Music Enrichment Program. Potential partnerships with programs working with child soldiers together with Roméo Dallaire's
Roméo Dallaire
Lieutenant-General Roméo Antonius Dallaire, is a Canadian senator, humanitarian, author and retired general...
Child Soldier Initiative have been explored, as well as one with the Panzi Hospital
Panzi Hospital
Panzi Hospital was founded in 1999 in Bukavu, the capital of the Sud-Kivu province in the Democratic Republic of the Congo. It specializes in treating survivors of violence, the large majority of whom have been sexually abused.Director Dr...
Music Enrichment Program
Song for Africa created the Music Enrichment Program (MEP) as a tool to enhance, enrich, and improve education in Africa, and as an opportunity for young people in Africa to engage in new forms of expression. The MEP uses music to accomplish 2 educational goals: to effectively educate on the difficult topic of HIV/AIDS and to develop leadership and personal life skills.The program uses music as the medium and method to deliver interactive seminars to teach HIV/AIDS material more effectively than in a traditional lecture model. Facilitators lead the MEP music seminars, which provide unique opportunities for facilitators to share information on issues affecting the participant’s lives such as HIV/AIDS (and other illnesses outlined in the Millennium Development Goals
Millennium Development Goals
The Millennium Development Goals are eight international development goals that all 193 United Nations member states and at least 23 international organizations have agreed to achieve by the year 2015...
framework) and the traumas associated with war. The education of the participants has a subsequent effect of increasing dialogue between the participants and their families and communities.
Concurrently, SFA’s Music Enrichment Program involves participants in cooperatively creating music, which aims to develop participants’ leadership and group work skills and builds self confidence. These skills allow participants to share their experiences with their peers, their families, and their communities. These life skills are tools that are needed to transform the world around the participants, allowing them to communicate accurately and meaningfully to their peers and communities and convey powerful potent messages through culturally accepted and culturally powerful modes of communication.
The SFA Music Enrichment Program seminars include music enrichment activities, writing master classes, and professional recording sessions with both local and international producers, engineers, and performing artists.
Partners
- Canadian International Development AgencyCanadian International Development AgencyThe Canadian International Development Agency was formed in 1968 by the Canadian government. CIDA administers foreign aid programs in developing countries, and operates in partnership with other Canadian organizations in the public and private sectors as well as other international organizations...
- The University of Winnipeg Global College
- Child Soldiers Initiative
- MetalWorks Institute of Sound and Music Production
- Uyisenga N'Manzi
- Slaight Communications
Artists
- Billy TalentBilly TalentBilly Talent is a Canadian post-hardcore band from Streetsville, Ontario. They formed in 1993 with Ben Kowalewicz as the lead vocalist, Ian D'Sa on lead guitar, bassist Jon Gallant and drummer Aaron Solowoniuk ....
(Ian D'SaIan D'SaIan Michael D'Sa is the guitarist for the Canadian band Billy Talent.-Early life and career:Ian's family moved from the UK to Canada when he was 3 years old. He is of Indian Goan descent and grew up in Mississauga, Ontario learning guitar at the age of 13...
) - Operation M.D/Sum 41Sum 41Sum 41 is a Canadian rock band from Ajax, Ontario. The band was formed in 1996 and currently consists of members Deryck Whibley , Tom Thacker , Jason McCaslin and Steve Jocz .In 1999, the band signed an international record deal with Island Records...
(Cone McCaslin) - Hot Hot HeatHot Hot HeatHot Hot Heat is a Canadian indie rock band formed in 1999 from Victoria, British Columbia, Canada.-Career:Dustin Hawthorne and Steve Bays had been in many different bands together since 1995 and met Hawley in 1998. In 1999, Hawley bought a Juno 6 keyboard and asked Bays to try playing it, as no one...
(Steve Bays) - Damhnait DoyleDamhnait DoyleDamhnait Doyle [DAV-net] is a Canadian pop singer. The phonetic spelling of her first name also serves as the title of her 2003 album. Her most recent album, Lights Down Low, is a collection of covers...
- The TrewsThe TrewsThe Trews are a Canadian rock band from Antigonish, Nova Scotia, consisting of vocalist Colin MacDonald, guitarist John-Angus MacDonald, bassist Jack Syperek, and drummer Sean Dalton...
- Barenaked LadiesBarenaked LadiesBarenaked Ladies is a Canadian alternative rock band. The band is currently composed of Jim Creeggan, Kevin Hearn, Ed Robertson, and Tyler Stewart. Barenaked Ladies formed in 1988 in Scarborough, Ontario, then a suburban municipality outside the City of Toronto...
- AlexisonfireAlexisonfireAlexisonfire was a five-piece, Juno-nominated post-hardcore band that formed in St. Catharines, Ontario, Canada in 2001. The band consisted of George Pettit , Dallas Green , Wade MacNeil , Chris Steele , and Jordan Hastings .They describe their music as "the sound of two Catholic high-school girls...
- Crash ParallelCrash ParallelCrash Parallel is an alternative band from Mississauga, Ontario, Canada who have been compared to Lifehouse, Counting Crows, the Fray, Coldplay, and David Gray. Their debut album, World We Know, was released May 6, 2008 and includes the first single and title track, "World We...
- Chantal KreviazukChantal KreviazukChantal Jennifer Kreviazuk is a Canadian singer-songwriter of the adult contemporary music genre. She is also a classically trained pianist, and can play the guitar.-Albums:...
- The WeakerthansThe WeakerthansThe Weakerthans are a four-piece Canadian indie rock band.-History:The band was formed in 1997 in Winnipeg, Manitoba by John K. Samson, after he left the punk band Propagandhi to start a publishing company. Samson joined forces with bassist John P...
- Luke McMasterLuke McMasterLuke Mcmaster is a Canadian singer, songwriter and musician.With a lifelong commitment to music, McMaster experienced early success as one half of a music duo from Winnipeg, Manitoba, Canada, McMaster and James, named after McMaster and his performing partner, Rob James. Despite initial success,...
- ChoclairChoclairKareem Blake, better known by his stage name Choclair, is a Canadian rapper. He helped develop Canadian hip hop in the 1990s, as a member of the Circle.-Career:...
- ThornleyThornleyThornley can refer to:Places* Thornley, Durham, a village in County Durham, England* Thornley, Weardale, Weardale, County Durham, EnglandPeople* Ben Thornley , English footballer* David Thornley , an Irish politician...
- Simon WilcoxSimon Wilcox-Early life:Born in Hamilton, Ontario, Canada, Wilcox is the daughter of multi-media artist Sadia Sadia and Canadian rock musician David Wilcox. She is also the great niece of Canadian political scientist John Meisel. At the age of three, she was placed with a female friend of the family in...
- Grand AnalogGrand AnalogGrand Analog is a Canadian hip hop band, formed in 2006 and fronted by Odario Williams. The group was conceived as a project combining R&B, jazz, reggae and rock influences into a hip hop style performed mainly on live instruments instead of digital electronics....
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