MOMRI Director Olivier Urbain held a series of online workshops on Music in Peacebuilding for the program Performing Sustainability on October 12-14, 2021. Dr. Nepomuk Riva, an ethnomusicologist who teaches at the Center for World Music at the University of Hildesheim (Germany), was in charge of this program, in collaboration with the University of Maiduguri (Nigeria) and the University of Cape Coast (Ghana). It was supported by the German Academic Exchange Service (DAAD) with the goal of encouraging MA and PhD students to do international research. Twelve students studying in Nigeria and six in Ghana took the workshop.

The students were particularly interested in finding the best ways to preserve African musical traditions endangered by the impact of colonization, globalization and in more severe cases by violence and destruction. During the workshop, the students had an opportunity to create an original five minute video in groups of three, using various means of expression to illustrate their research topic. Most themes dealt with intercultural competence and understanding, equality and equity, ways forward for a more prosperous Africa, and the protection of minorities and of children. One of the videos entitled We Are The Future went on to gather more than 2000 views, and is included in the Min-On Share Music Day series. Please view video here.