By Ibrahim S. Bangura
Freetown/Tamale, June 2026 – The Ballanta Academy of Music and Performing Arts (BAMPA) has launched a cultural exchange mission to Ghana, deepening West African artistic ties and promoting regional collaboration in music education.
Hosted by the Bizung School of Music in Tamale, the initiative seeks to enhance artistic cooperation, strengthen music education, and preserve Africa’s rich musical heritage. Representing BAMPA are David Solomon Koroma, popularly known as Double King, Iyabode Johnson, and Musa Sam Ganda.
Enriching Exchange
Reflecting on the experience, Koroma described the engagement as transformative. “Our moments in Ghana are always filled with learning, cultural exchange, creativity, and musical exploration. From engaging workshops to inspiring performances and meaningful interactions with fellow musicians, the experience has already proven to be both enriching and unforgettable,” he said.
The trip is supported by the Culture Moves Salone Mobility Fund, financed primarily by the European Union through the EU Delegation to Sierra Leone, with additional backing from the Playing for Change Foundation. Koroma expressed gratitude to both partners for their continued support of BAMPA’s mission.
Legacy of Nicholas Ballanta
Founded in 1995 as a memorial to Sierra Leonean composer and ethnomusicologist Nicholas G. J. Ballanta, BAMPA has long championed the study and performance of African and Western musical traditions. Ballanta’s pioneering research in the 1920s documented thousands of West African songs, laying the foundation for African music scholarship.
Over the years, BAMPA has trained generations of musicians, performers, and educators while embracing diverse genres including palm wine music, highlife, Afrobeat, choral music, brass band traditions, and indigenous rhythms. Its students and faculty have participated in international training programmes in Ethiopia and China, while welcoming artists from Liberia, The Gambia, Ghana, and Nigeria.
The Bizung School of Music and Dance, established in 2010 by Mohammed Alidu in partnership with the Playing for Change Foundation, uses music and dance as tools for education, cultural preservation, and community development. It has become a hub for nurturing young talent while safeguarding Northern Ghana’s rich traditions.
Ghana and Sierra Leone share deep historical and cultural connections, particularly in music. From highlife rhythms to indigenous percussion, both nations have shaped West Africa’s musical identity.
As BAMPA and Bizung deepen their collaboration, the initiative stands as a testament to the power of arts and culture in building bridges across borders, fostering mutual understanding, and strengthening regional identity in West Africa.