American Music Students in Kenya

31 August 2011

Dave Chapman with children at the Divine Providence Children's Home in Kakamega, Kenya

This is the VOA Special English Education Report. Current and former students from Berklee College of Music in Boston recently returned to the United States after three weeks in Kenya. They were part of a cultural exchange program aiming to influence lives through music. They taught music, performed and donated instruments to a Kenyan community center. They also learned about traditional Kenyan music.

Music is an important part of life in Kenya.

(MUSIC)

SAM LUTOMIA: “Growing up, I sang a lot in school. And we had competitions and choir and music every year.”

Sam Lutomia works for the Berklee College of Music. He was born and spent his early years in Kenya.

SAM LUTOMIA: “When I moved to the States, I get exposed to a higher level of music. And I was like, ‘Is there something I can do not that I’m in the States?’”

He helped to create a group called Global Youth Groove. Its goal is to bring western music to young Kenyans, and get them to consider music as a career.

SAM LUTOMIA: “I started talking with students at Berklee College of Music and faculty members, and they all responded positively. And we started collecting instruments.”

Thirteen Americans made the trip to Kenya in July. They included four high school students from the Boston area. One of them was Marina Miller.