École de Musique de Kirina

18/08/2026

Happy Tuesday with the balafon notes of Maïmouna Diabaté from Ecole de Musique de Kirina, Mali.
Maimouna is an eight year old student of our balafon program. She feels very happy to attend our program because she couldn’t play any note of balafon, her favorite instrument before attending our program. Now thanks to the supports of PFCF and all the partners Maïmouna has a hope to become one of the world female balafon Players.
Music is the key to Hope.

15/08/2026

Meet with Naniouma Traoré, 12 years old, Coumbafing Traoré, 13 years old and Tabara Keita, 13 years old. They are all happy to be dance students of our dance program led by our very talented dance Teacher, Oumou Mariko.
They thank Playing for Change Foundation and all the partners

14/08/2026

Happy International Youth Day to all from Ecole de Musique de Kirina, Mali

Today, we celebrate the generation shaping what comes next. 🌎

International Youth Day is a reminder that young people aren’t just the future, they’re creating change right now.

Through music, creativity, education, and community, young people are finding their voices, building connections, and imagining a more inclusive world.

At Playing For Change Foundation, we believe every young person deserves the opportunity to be heard, empowered, and given the tools to create change.

The future is already making noise. Let’s listen. 🎶

Donate today: www.playingforchange.org/donate

12/08/2026

We are very happy to share the interview of Paul Chandler, the Director of I4Africa

10/08/2026

Welcome to the global family Charlie. Kirina is very happy to have you among us

We’re excited to highlight Charlie Heekin, a board member of the Playing For Change Foundation. 🎶

Charlie is the Founder and Managing Partner of Millennial Wealth Advisors, an independent advisory firm dedicated to helping individuals and families build and preserve generational wealth. With more than 35 years of experience in finance, his career spans commercial banking and institutional equity sales at several leading Wall Street investment banks.

Beyond his professional work, Charlie is passionate about giving back and supporting causes that create meaningful impact. We’re grateful for his leadership, generosity, and love of music that help power the mission of Playing For Change. 🌍💛

🎶

08/08/2026

We were very happy to Receive Paul Chandler and his team along with Madou Sidiki Diabaté, one of the Malian best Kora players at Ecole de Musique de Kirina Mali on Friday, August, 7th, 2026.
The main goals of that visit for Paul his team were to come and see the location of the school, see the new recording studio we have thanks to our friend Damon Albarn, a great rocker from the UK and to figure out how Instruments 4 Africa and Ecole de Musique de Kirina can work together for more cultural exchange.
Paul Chandler is the Director of Instruments 4 Africa (I4A), a not-for-profit (501c-3) organization formed to reinforce traditional music and the arts in West Africa. It promotes time-tested cultural activities that support traditional values of tolerance and peaceful conflict resolution. It works to empower underprivileged and at-risk youth through academic and cultural educational opportunities.
Billions thanks to Playing for Change Foundation and all the partners, billion thanks to Damon Albarn and his team
Music is the Key to peace and love in this world

03/08/2026

Music is the keep to keeping the cultural heritage alive
Many thanks to Playing for Change Foundation and all the partners

29/07/2026

Meet with Awa Kouyaté, one of our keyboard students.
Awa is very happy because she couldn’t play any note on the keyboard before attending our programs at Ecole de musique de Kirina but now she can play thanks to the support of PFCF and all the partners.
We remain grateful to PFCF and all the partners
Music is the Key to children’s personal development

24/07/2026

Music is the Key tool to unite the world

23/07/2026

Happy Thursday from our dance program.
These dance steps and rhythms are from the bobo ethnic group of Mali.

The Bobo mainly live in southwestern Mali, especially around the regions of San and near the border with Burkina Faso.
They speak Bomu (also called Bobo), which belongs to the Mande language family.
Most Bobo are farmers, growing crops such as millet, sorghum, maize, and cotton.
Many Bobo traditionally practiced animist beliefs, honoring ancestors and nature spirits. Today, many are also Muslim or Christian.
The Bobo are famous for their large wooden masks used in ceremonies, dances, and festivals. These masks symbolize spirits and play an important role in community traditions.
Their villages are organized around strong family and community ties, with traditions passed down through generations.

Thanks to the supports of Playing for Change Foundation and all the partners we are teaching our students the bobo musical rhythms and dance steps to strengthen the social cohesion in Mali .
Music is the Key to the cultural connection and the promotion of the social cohesion in a country such as Mali living into a very big security crisis among some of its different ethnic groups these recent years.