OneVoice uses kid-powered music for social good

Friday, October 25, 2013

It all started in 2006 when Schaefer first heard the East African musician Samite Mulondo, who is from Uganda but now lives in New York. Schaefer was deeply moved by Mulondo’s music, a style that blends vocals, flute and kalimba, a hand-held piano shaped from a gourd. With research, he learned that Mulondo traveled back to Africa from time to time to play at refugee camps.

“It was one of those light bulb moments, and I thought, ’Wow, this is what I was meant to do,’” said Schaefer.

He reached out to the Ugandan artist and the two began to communicate. Mulondo urged Schaefer to visit Brain Tree Primary School in Kyanja in southern Uganda to test his musical exchange idea. The school had a pen-pal partnership with the Shipley School in Bryn Mawr, Pa., and Schaefer decided to try to deepen their connection through music.

Source: PBS NewsHour (link opens in a new window)

Categories
Uncategorized