The Khayelitsha Music Academy in South Africa provides free music lessons to youth in an area with many challenges. Founded in 2006 by Ongx Mona and Wara Zintwana, the Academy now teaches a range of musical instruments to 19 students and hopes to provide employment opportunities for them while contributing to the community’s socio-economic progression. Despite funding challenges and the risk of theft, the Academy remains a beacon of hope and stability for its students, showcasing the transformative potential of art to reshape lives and communities.
The Khayelitsha Music Academy in South Africa offers free music lessons to youth in an area plagued by socioeconomic challenges. Founded in 2006 by Ongx Mona and Wara Zintwana, the Academy now teaches a range of musical instruments to 19 students. The founders hope to provide employment opportunities for students while contributing to the community’s socio-economic progression. Despite funding challenges and the risk of theft, the Academy remains a beacon of hope and stability for its students.
In the epicenter of Khayelitsha, a settlement nestled in Cape Town’s Cape Flats, South Africa, music serves as a catalyst for hope, empowerment, and transformation. It’s in this setting that the Khayelitsha Music Academy was born, a shining pillar of passion and steadfast commitment, rooted in the tireless dedication of local musicians, Ongx Mona and Wara Zintwana. Their inspiring journey underscores the transformative potential of art, demonstrating its power to reshape lives and communities against all odds.
The story of the Academy started in 2006, from a humble shack by the beach, where a single student was taught guitar. Today, the Academy, having relocated from the informal settlement of Monwabisi Park to a garage in Khayelitsha, proudly caters to a vibrant group of 19 students, ranging in age from five to 23. A spectrum of courses is offered, encompassing music theory, acoustic guitar, bass guitar, drums, and keyboard, all free of charge, courtesy of the teachers’ voluntary service.
Mona and Zintwana’s path was not strewn with roses. The Academy was birthed and nurtured with funds sourced from their busking efforts on trains. They held a dream – to provide Khayelitsha’s youth an option apart from idling on streets plagued by substance abuse. Drawing on their meager funds, they procured instruments to make this dream a tangible reality.
The founders assert that the Academy’s benefits transcend mere musical proficiency alone. Acquired skills such as music literacy can offer global employment opportunities, turning the Academy into a vehicle for socio-economic progression.
However, the Academy hasn’t been spared its share of hurdles. Persistent funding issues cast a shadow over its operations, while the menace of crime is a constant concern. In 2015, the Academy fell victim to a crippling theft, with numerous guitars and equipment stolen. The perilous state of the streets further impedes students’ ability to safely transport their instruments, thereby hampering their practice.
Despite these obstacles, some former students have successfully parlayed their musical prowess into gainful employment, securing jobs in local churches, a testament to the Academy’s effectiveness. Nevertheless, the founders acknowledge that robust financial backing is crucial to fully unlock the Academy’s potential. Currently, the Academy receives no financial assistance from the local community, parents, or the government, relying instead on sporadic donations.
However, the Khayelitsha Music Academy’s resolve remains undeterred. The Academy is viewed as a sanctuary of tranquility, as validated by 22-year-old student, Liyabona Mraji. A student of over 12 years, Mraji states, “When I’m here, all of my troubles just disappear… There is peace with music.”
The Academy epitomizes stability and forward momentum in the face of community challenges. Its founders dream of a prosperous future – a future where the Academy owns its land, its transportation, and has adequate support to maintain the instruments, provide for the children, and compensate the teachers. They see the Academy as a life-changing institution, a center that extends beyond just being a music school.
In essence, the narrative of the Khayelitsha Music Academy is a story of resilience, fervor, and the transformative power of the arts. It stands as a testament to the capacity of the arts to serve as a potent force in the promotion of social change and community upliftment.
The Khayelitsha Music Academy is a music school in South Africa that offers free music lessons to youth in the area.
The Khayelitsha Music Academy was founded by Ongx Mona and Wara Zintwana.
The Khayelitsha Music Academy teaches a range of musical instruments including acoustic guitar, bass guitar, drums, and keyboard.
The founders’ vision is to provide employment opportunities for students while contributing to the community’s socio-economic progression through music.
The Khayelitsha Music Academy faces funding challenges and risks of theft. The state of the streets also impedes students’ ability to safely transport their instruments.
The Khayelitsha Music Academy is a beacon of hope and stability for its students, showcasing the transformative potential of art to reshape lives and communities against all odds. It is a story of resilience, fervor, and the transformative power of the arts.
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