The Ballanta Academy of Music
& Performing Arts
Freetown, Sierra Leone
Partner program
Since 2024
The Ballanta Academy of Music and Performing Arts was established in 1995 to train Sierra Leoneans in classical music, and has evolved greatly since then. Ballanta now engages youth from all corners of Freetown through music education, dance, and community outreach activities, and has worked with PFCF recently on crucial cultural preservation initiatives among ethnic minority groups who practice at-risk languages and cultures.
PFCF has formed a partnership with Ballanta and the World Monuments Fund (WMF) as WMF is currently rehabilitating the historic Old Fourah Bay College in Freetown and is working with PFCF and Ballanta to repurpose this building into a music program and recording studio. The WMF is an international non-profit organization dedicated to the preservation of historic architecture and cultural heritage sites around the world through fieldwork, advocacy, grantmaking, education, and training.
A New cohalition
Local music institution Ballanta Academy of Music and Performing Arts, along with the internationally renowned World Monuments Fund have come together with PFCF for the restoration and repurposing of the iconic Old Fourah Bay College building in Freetown. Once completed, the newly restored facilities are to become a state-of-the-art and free-of-charge cultural center for youth from one of the most economically underserved areas of Freetown.
The Old Fourah Bay College in Freetown
Established in 1827, it was the first university of Western education in sub-Saharan Africa. In 2021, WMF embarked on a project to carry out emergency stabilization of Old Fourah Bay College and implement a planning and design process for the structure’s rehabilitation in collaboration with architect Aziza Chaouni to complete the new designs of the cultural center.
VIDEO OVERVIEW: TAKE A VISIT AT THE PROGRAM
Life in the community
The city of Cusco is nestled in the heart of the Andes Mountains,and stands as a living testament to the rich cultural heritage of Peru. Once the capital of the Inca Empire, Cusco’s cobblestone streets and ancient stone walls still bear witness to its glorious past. Beyond its architectural marvels, Cusco pulses with a vibrant and diverse musical heritage. Traditional Andean melodies, characterized by the haunting tones of panpipes and drums, blend seamlessly with Spanish influences, giving rise to unique genres of music. Cachimayo is a town of nearly 3,000 inhabitants located 30 minutes away of Cuzco, with an altitude of 3,400 meters.
