Congolese asylum seeker in Kenya changing lives through a music school, despite odds

Equipped with only a rented piano, 2 guitars, a set of drums and three music teachers, Bortopra Talanta Academy in Kasarani, Nairobi is fulfilling Eric Museveni’s dream of empowering refugees with a passion for music.

In 2015, 27 year old Eric Museveni was travelling on a bus in his native Congo when it was targeted by gunmen, in a region wrecked by years of instability and violence. Museveni managed to escape into the bush with a friend where they hid for several days.

“They chased us and chased, we just kept running and running. They eventually abandoned trying to get us.”

Museveni and his friend found shelter in a nearby village, and that’s how his journey to seek asylum and become a refugee in Kenya began.

“I borrowed some money for fare and took a bus to the border of Kenya. I came to Kenya because I was told it would be safe,” Museveni says.

‘I knew I loved music.’

In a secure country where he knew he could seek asylum, Museveni knew that he could fend for himself. Initially he got an informal job as a labourer at a construction site. But eventually construction work proved too physically difficult, so Museveni started to think about his other options.

As a young boy in Congo, Museveni remembers how he used to mimic famous and well known drummers by using tins, buckets and containers.

“I knew I loved music,” he says. “I didn’t go to music school but I watched a friend play drums in church and at functions. I followed him everywhere he went and that is how I started playing the drums. So after leaving construction work, I thought why not do what I know and love, and try and make a living out of it?”

 

Museveni finally got a job in a church where he began singing in the choir. He earned about 100 US dollars every month. But Museveni says this was not enough to live on.

Museveni remembered how he taught his young cousin to drum using containers and basins in his house. His cousin became so good he was able to make a living from drumming eventually.

Children in the neighbourhood admired his cousin and they expressed interest in being trained. This is where Museveni’s idea of starting a music school was born.

‘Despite being an asylum-seeker, I was not going to let the opportunity pass me by. I was very happy when I was selected because I was officially on the right track.’

“I saw an opportunity to supplement my salary. I started drafting a proposal and my plan was to charge every student 20 US dollars a month,” he explained.

In 2016 Museveni quit singing in church to focus solely on building the music school.

“If you are not ready to take risks you will not get where you want to be.” Museveni says.

 

When Museveni started the school he didn’t have any instruments. But he was lucky because one of his friends had been trained under UNHCR – the UN Refugee Agency in Kenya’s Artists for Refugees livelihood project. His friend had received a grant through UNHCR’s liveilhoods partner Danish Refugee Council to buy drums.

“I used to take my students to my friend’s house for training but it wasn’t sustainable because I always had to rely on him being available.”

Museveni decided to apply for the Artists for Refugees Scholarship grant himself in 2016. “Despite being an asylum-seeker, I was not going to let the opportunity pass me by. I was very happy when I was selected because I was officially on the right track.”

‘My heart is complete when I train them. I feel free.’

He says: “I was trained by Octopizzo, one of Kenya’s most famous musicians and his team. I was very committed. When we were asked to write proposals of music project after the first phase, I was ready with my proposal. While many of the artists opted to record songs I chose to follow my passion and submitted my music school proposal.”

Museveni received a grant of 500 US dollars, which he used to purchase his first set of drums.

“I formally started Bortopa Music School in my one-room flat before securing space in a community centre for refugees called ‘Tamuka Hub’ in a Kasarani, Nairobi, which is run by the Xavier Project. Bortopra means ‘Born To Praise’.

 

“Students pay USD 20 per month. But we also offer free training to those who are really passionate but cannot afford the fees. With support from partners and well-wishers, I believe we can support even more refugees and Kenyans.”

So far Bortopra Talanta Academy has trained 45 refugees and 3 Kenyans. “There is no success without a successor. My cousin whom I trained is now successful and is paying his own fees through drumming.”

17 year old Edward Hakizimana is one of the students. He says the school feels like home to him. Edward fled conflict in Burundi together with his sister and he just joined the music school. “I have always loved playing the piano ever since I was a child. When I heard about this school, I applied for a scholarship and I started learning with the others this month.”

‘So we need support in order to expand the project to include training for refugee producers and instrumentalist.’

25 year old Nzaronka Aimable from Congo is Edward’s piano teacher. He has a degree in music. He says he loves being a piano teacher at the school. And that he finds peace when he trains the young men and women how to play. “My heart is complete when I train them. I feel free.”

But Museveni decided not to stop at asylum seekers and refugees at his school. Ordinary Kenyans and non-refugees are invited to study at his school too.

30 year old Peter Mwendwa, a Kenyan, is an example. “I joined the music school so that I could learn how to play and serve God through my talent. The refugees in my class are my friends. I am used to them and I have even started understanding their language. I feel really happy training with them.”

 

At the beginning of this year’s Artists for Refugees project training phase, Museveni received a gift from his mentor Octopizzo, who gave him a brand new guitar for his music school to enable him support more students.

“2 years ago I did not have a guitar but thanks to Octopizzo now I have two,” he says as he strums his guitar happily.

Octopizzo, has been mentoring Museveni and other refugee artists since the project began in 2015.

He says; “The Artists for Refugees project needs to expand. We had made the project look like it was only for performing artists. Museveni was forcing himself to sing yet he has other talents which he is passionate about like drumming and training others. So we need support in order to expand the project to include training for refugee producers and instrumentalist. They play a big role in production even in the camps. This will make the project more sustainable.”

‘The Artists for Refugees project needs to expand.’

“My purpose is to inspire people,” says Museveni who dreams of having a bigger and better equipped music school to assist refugees. “Refugees don’t have to keep borrowing. I want to assist refugees so that they do not waste their talents or become idle.”

Museveni has already started to realise this dream. He has started another Bortopra Talanta Academy branch in Narok town, 143 kilometres from Nairobi, where he plays in a church band. He hopes to get more support to furnish the school and empower the youth in Narok.

 

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