Who We Are ?

The Friends of the Madrigal Choir of Cameroon Association (ACMC) is a Cameroonian cultural organization dedicated to the development of music education, the promotion of choral singing, and the preservation and promotion of Cameroon’s musical heritage.

For more than ten years, the association has been working to make music a tool for education, social inclusion, and personal development for young people. Through its programs, it strives to democratize access to culture by enabling thousands of children and young people, regardless of their social background, to participate in musical activities.

ACMC follows in the footsteps of René Esso, a pioneer in the development of music education and inclusive choral practice in Cameroon.

Through its projects, the association promotes artistic transmission, professional training, and social cohesion, helping to strengthen and structure the music education sector in the country.

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Our Mission

ACMC works to:

• facilitate access to music education and practice for all children

• develop professional training in music education and choral conducting

• encourage choral singing among young people

• preserve and pass on Cameroonian traditional songs

• promote cultural exchange and intercultural dialogue

 

Our Activities

The association’s work is structured around three main pillars:

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Training

Each year, ACMC organizes the Akono Music Academy, a residency program that trains young adults in the fields of music education and choral conducting. The Academy also welcomes nearly one hundred children for a choral singing and music education program.

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Practice

Free music education workshops are offered in schools and cultural centers to introduce children to musical practice.

The association also created the Mboa Youth Choir, a national youth choir that trains young singers in a demanding and high-quality choral tradition, serving as a model of excellence in choral practice in Cameroon.

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Preservation and Transmission

ACMC carries out the collection, documentation, and arrangement of Cameroonian traditional songs in order to preserve this cultural heritage and integrate it into music education programs.

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Key Figures

• Akono Music Academy organised annually since 2017

• Over 516 hours of professional training in music education

• More than 176 young people trained in music teaching

• Over 3,000 children benefiting each year from music education workshops

• In 2023, ACMC also organised Africa Cantat, an international choral festival that brought together 651 participants from 15 countries.