Emmeth's Belize-Africa Fusion Album

For as long as he can remember, Emmeth Young has wanted to go to West Africa to learn more about his roots and West African music.  Thanks to the generosity of 69 donors on gofundme.com, anonymous givers, and several prominent Belizean organizations he finally got there in January 2018.  He is now three months into a six-month apprenticeship, and his monthly costs are covered for the rest of the trip.  We did it!

Inspired by the artists he's met, Emmeth is reaching for higher heights and needs your help.  In a recent email he wrote (slight edits were made for clarity): “ I have this vision to make a CD while am here combining Belizean music with African music fusion.  I am working on raising US$1000 to go in the studio with the musicians I've met.  The CD will be sold as a fundraiser to bring drum master teachers to Belize, first starting with hopefully my teacher Alaye.  He just get his passport four days ago so Pete is putting something together so I can start raise funds for the CD.  Many musicians here are great musicians.  A rastman community I went to meet with yesterday and explain to them what I am doing here...they all want to contribute their music towards the CD project. The money is to go in the studio and to give a contribution to artists that contribute their time and music."
So, we have revamped our fundraising effort, and are asking you to once again give as generously as you are able for this incredibly worth cause.  Thank you in advance, and don't forget to check out Emmeth's Facebook page for updates ("Emmeth in Guinea 2018 ")


Original posting below:

Emmeth is a powerful and exciting drummer and a master craftsman who carves drums by hand.  Emmeth is also the the founder of the Drums Not Guns Progressive Youth Movement and a nationally known cultural artist in his native country of Belize. 

He has given countless hours of his time teaching local children, friends, and strangers how to drum and build drums at the Maroon Creole Drum School, many for free.  After a series of tragic deaths in his village to gang violence, he started Drums Not Guns.  Through this initiative, he has trained hundreds of children to drum and make drums, giving them self confidence and opportunities to make money outside of the gang violence consuming parts of Belize.  

All those who have met him will tell you that Emmeth has a heart of gold. As a man on a mission to both preserve his culture, history and heritage, as well as help lift up the youth of Belize, he's never quite had the resources to fulfill this lifelong dream of traveling to West Africa.

Emmeth will fly from Belize to Guinea West Africa and apprentice with master drummers that he has met in his travels. Over six months, his aim is to learn as many West African rhythms as he can and improve his drum building skills.  Emmeth will carry his knowledge from Africa back to Belize to connect Belizeans and the Drums Not Guns Movement to the musical wisdom of West Africa.  Donations will be used to cover the costs of international airfare, room and board, lessons, and drum building tools.