27-06-2009
guitars from Kinshasa being played by musicians
Last night, 26th June, Ottignies, festival Nuit Africaine: jazzmusician Philip Catherine, as well as musicians Daniel Hélin, Bai Kamara and Fred Lani, performed on guitars made in Kinshasa. in the hands of these fine musicians, the guitars from Kinshasa sound great ! to help these guitar-makers from Kinshasa to develop their workshops, Music Fund decided to sell their their guitars on internet: www.musicfund.be
This is what bluessinger Fred Lani had to say about his experience: "Chacune de ces guitares est unique, avec tout l'amour de la musique et du travail bien fait qui ont été mis dans la fabrication. Chacune a une âme et donne au musicien cette authenticité, cette force qu'on trouve dans les plus beaux enregistrements de blues des années 20 et 30. Ces guitares se méritent, et méritent qu'on leur porte de l'attention. Lors de cette Nuit Africaine , cette Almaz m'a donné beaucoup d'émotion. Merci mille fois à ses concepteurs et à MusicFund d'avir permis cela !"
It was great to be confronted with so much enthusiasm from the musicians towards these guitars made in Kinshasa.
13-06-2009
handmade Congolese guitars for sale
GOOD NEWS FOR MUSIC AFICIONADO’S !
Music Fund is a Belgian organisation that supports young musicians and music academies in developing countries and conflict areas. As of June 12th, we are offering you the opportunity to order one of our popular handmade Congolese guitars.
WHERE DID WE GET THIS IDEA?
In 2009, Music Fund focuses on locally produced instruments, starting in Kinshasa. Almaz and Socklo are two experienced guitar makers who, in spite of the difficult circumstances, continue to craft beautiful guitars by hand. They create unique pieces with a unique sound and are renowned with local musicians in Kinshasa.
When we came into contact with their work, we were very impressed and decided that people in Europe could be very interested in these unique instruments.
Artists such as Garland Jeffreys, Axelle Red and Philippe Catherine have already said to be big fans of their particular sound. Others are thinking of expressing themselves in a similar way.
That is why Music Fund is now providing you with the possibility to buy one of these guitars.
Not only will you be getting you hands on a true collector’s item, but you would also be supporting both our guitar makers and musicians in Kinshasa.
How so? Thanks to the deposits they receive for the guitars, Almaz and Socklo would finally be able to expand their workshops, build up stocks, buy better tools, …
Of course there are many more in Kinshasa who would love to follow in their footsteps, but who have never been given the chance. With part of the proceeds, Music Fund would be able to offer these people training courses, to teach them how to repair and maintain musical instruments.
To order such a guitar, go to the Music Fund website
07-06-2009
Music Fund cannot get into Gaza
I just got the bad news that we do not get entry permits to go work in Gaza with our team of music instrument techniques of Music Fund (www.musicfund.be).
Our 'plan B' is to now go work for our partnerschools in Jenin and Nablus.
I cannot tell you how dissappointed I am myself, as well as my team !!!
But I am especially sorry for our friends in Gaza. We tried and did not succeed last November and again now. But we will try again in a few months, for sure. We do not want to let our friends in Gaza down, and will try again this Fall (if we can get the money, in the beginning of November). Maybe 3rd time good time. never say never. They can count on us for not giving up.
We are so impressed that they reopened the music school in Gaza again, only 2 months after it was destroyed on 28th December 2008.
02-06-2009
Music Fund sells guitars from Kinshasa - trade not aid
Here you can see Belgian artists playing the guitars from Kinshasa (Congo) workshops which Music Fund is selling on its website from 5th June on:
Music Fund is selling these guitars in order to allow the guitar ateliers to develop and expecting that their development will interest others in town to want to learn the skills of repairing music instruments, something which Music Fund is giving training programmes for, in collaboration with the Institut National des Arts in Kinshasa.
