AfroReggae* is a cultural project with social orientation having its roots in the favelas of Rio de Janeiro and focusing on work with young people who are socially least-privileged and belong to risk groups, creating possibilities for them to discover their talent in music and building of musical instruments and thereby provide inspiration and model for many people of their age.

This is regarded to be one of the most successful social projects in the world, engaging thousands of youths. Of the population of Rio de Janeiro alone, about 6 million people live in favelas. And there are more than 500 favelas in Rio. AfroReggae is as a living legend and proof that music can change the world and the lives. This is also told by a documentary about AfroReggae – “Favela Rising” which has already picked many awards at different film festivals of the world.

AfroReggae started with a drum orchestra which by now has given performances all over the world with many great figures of pop music, for example with Caetano Veloso, Gilberto Gil, Elza Soares or also the Rolling Stones. The musicians of AfroReggae have met with young people in India, England, Germany, and other countries, in order to inspire and encourage the youths.

AfroReggae is an organised cooperation network which gives young people a possibility to acquire new skills and demonstrate these in short time to the audience. In Brazil, AfroReggae offers tens of different activities to the youth.

In Tallinn, drum orchestra called Trumm-It* ,inspired by AfroReggae, has been rehearsing their drumming skills since February 2010. Trumm-It is an orchestra where youths in risk groups and youths with limited possibilities are engaged from the different parts of Tallinn, and in the future also from other places of Estonia.

Playing percussion instruments is a way of making music that offers one of the fastest way to experience success and recognition, and where also those people can be successful who are not talented in music and who have difficulties with the sense of rhythm. The youth work of Trumm-It orchestras employs the experience of AfroReggae. Trumm-It orchestra uses original samba drums as used in Brazil and also self-built instruments made of cans or barrels.

Regular percussion lessons are held in youth centres and other places in the city that are the spots the youths are used to visit.
In 2010 and 2011, a percussion teacher, Weldson Archanjo from AfroReggae, Rio de Janeiro, lives in Estonia with the support of the Ministry of Culture of Brazil; he teaches the youth all about the rhythm, the philosophy behind AfroReggae and samba-reggae music, the making and repairing of percussion instruments. An important goal is to find and educate  the young drummers so some of them could become the future leaders of Trumm-it orchestras.

In addition to regular year-round drum lessons, public performances and workshops are also organised where the youths can demonstrate what they have learnt in their lessons. Most of the performances are held in cooperation with the partners of Tallinn 2011, in addition, concerts will be held in the city of Tallinn, at festivals, ceremonies and other places, where the cheerful drum music by youths adds brightness and colour.

In 2011 Talk_Trumm-It- a open worshop-lecture session, held once a month will give the young drummers an opportunity to hear, see and learn from acknowledged actors, dancers, chefs , athletes & musicians. The topics are not always drumming based but will help and give inspiration how to stand, how to move and how to communicate with each other.

AfroReggae and Trumm-It will celebrate cooperation between the two cities of culture – Rio de Janeiro is inarguably the culture capital of Brazil, and the heart of the cultural life of Tallinn is already beating in the rhythm of the European Capital of Culture 2011. This is a beautiful meeting of two different cultures, proving that music knows no borders and that young people are everywhere able to respect cheerful and light-hearted music.