Toroama launches B’ville music, arts academy

President Ishmael Toroama launched the Bougainville Music and Arts Academy in Arawa town on Wednesday as the academy graduated its first students.
“The spirit in music changes your ability in realising your potential and it has the power to influence the social behaviour of people,” he said.
“Musicians have the power to create positive social change in our communities as well as our government through their messages of hope and awareness on development.
“To the young musicians and to all young Bougainvilleans, you have to embrace change that will create innovative thinking and creativity on Bougainville.
“This leads to realising their potential as a mother, as youth, as an ex-combatant and as a leader into preparing Bougainville for independence.”
The academy is the brainchild of Otto Kapapal, former drummer of the legendary Bougainville heavy metal band Project 2,000.
Since his band’s disbandment in the early 2,000s, Kapapal initiated several similar programmes in North Bougainville to encourage music programmes for the youth.
Kapapal said with government support, he hoped to maintain the academy and continue to teach music and musical skills to the youth.
The academy is the first of its kind and has proven to be a success since its establishment a year ago.
The graduation of the first students of the academy also started the academy’s roadshow which will proceed into the other districts around Bougainville.