Playing For Change
Playing For Change (PFC) is a purpose-driven, certified B Corp that has traveled the globe for the past 20 years to collaborate with thousands of musicians in over 60 countries, producing beautiful music that fosters a genuine emotional connection with the culture to unite the world. PFC has had the distinguished honor to present its body of work at The White House, United Nations, World Economic Forum, TED, Olympics, The Tonight Show, CNN and was named a Polar Music Prize Laureate in 2019. Their award-winning content has been viewed over 1.2 Billion times across 193 countries, inspiring passionate humanitarians to participate in this social movement.
The primary focus of PFC is to record and film musicians performing in their natural environments and combine their talents and cultural power in innovative videos called Songs Around The World. Creating these videos motivated PFC to form the Playing For Change Band鈥攁 tangible, traveling representation of its mission, featuring musicians met along their journey; and establish the Playing For Change Foundation鈥攁 separate 501(c)3 nonprofit organization dedicated to supporting music programs for children around the world. Through these efforts, Playing For Change aims to create hope and inspiration for the future of our planet.
Discover Some of the Key Players of PFC!
Playing For Change!
Pemba Laka | Songs Around The World
Enjoy this Song Around The World, "Pemba Laka.鈥 Take a trip around the world with us and let this joyful song bring a smile to your face and love into your hearts. Wishing all of you a lifetime of health, happiness, peace, and prosperity. Music is the key.
Three Little Birds (Bob Marley) feat. Baaba Maal | Song Around the World
We begin the journey of this song in West Africa, in the ancient village of Kirina, Mali. Three instruments start to play and we hear the familiar words "don't worry about a thing, every little thing is gonna be alright." This timeless message invites us on a musical journey through time and space. Together we continue to connect the world through music.
Africa Mokili Mobimba | Song Around The World
"I will never forget the feeling I had the first time I heard traditional Congolese music while visiting the capital of Kinshasa. The poorest people with broken instruments playing the most upbeat and positive music I have ever heard. 'Africa Mokili Mobimba' is a famous song from the Congo and serves as an anthem to unify Africa. We decided to use this song to connect those who were separated generations ago by slavery and reunite them through their music (...)
(...) Our Journey began in Kinshasa Congo and then the PFC crew and I drove out to the village of Lukala. We received permission to record and film in the village and we were told that the local Voodoo community would protect us. We then traveled through the Caribbean to the island of Anguilla and then Cuba before making our way to Congo Square New Orleans to record and film the Preservation Hall Jazz Band. Music is the best tool to reunite hearts, souls, and minds all around the world because it lifts us up to a place where we all feel connected." Mark Johnson, PFC co-founder
Mama Africa (Peter Tosh) feat. Andrew Tosh | Song Around The World
This song was originally written and performed by the late, great Peter Tosh and speaks about the beauty and strength of Africa. We united Peter's son, Andrew Tosh, with Donald Kinsey and Fully Fullwood who performed with Peter many years ago and added musicians all over the world from Africa to Jamaica to the USA. Turn it up and feel how the heartbeat of Africa resonates through this uplifting song.
War/No More Trouble feat. Bono | Song Around The World
As we made our way around the world we encountered love, hate, rich and poor, black and white, and many different religious groups and ideologies. It became very clear that as a human race we need to transcend from the darkness to the light and music is our weapon of the future. This song around the world features musicians who have seen and overcome conflict and hatred with love and perseverance. We don't need more trouble, what we need is love. The spirit of Bob Marley always lives on.
UNESCO's Interview with Mark Johnson, Cofounder of Playing For Change涓∕usic & Peace
UNESCO's Interview with Jason Tamba, Playing For Change's Artist涓∕essage of Peace & Love
UNESCO's Interview with Mermans Mosengo, Playing For Change's Artist涓∕usic & Peace
UNESCO's Interview with Rocky Dawuni, Playing For Change's Artist涓∕essage of Peace
Tet茅 Garc铆a Caturla, Cuba
Yu Hatakeyama, Japan
Rajhesh Vaidhya Veena, India
Conga player in Salvador, Brazil
Grandpa Elliott
Publications about Playing For Change
Disclaimer
The ideas and opinions expressed on this page are those of the Member State; they do not necessarily represent the views of UNESCO and the Organization hereby declines all liability. The designation employed and the presentation of material throughout the National Pavilion or this webpage do not imply the expression of any opinion whatsoever on the part of the Organization, concerning the legal status of any country, territory, city or area of its authorities, or concerning its frontiers or boundaries.