arcomusical

Arcomusical is a 501(c)(3) non-profit organization with a mission to spread the joy of the Afro-Brazilian berimbau musical bow.  Six pillars support this mission: performance, education, composition, publication, research, and community.

Although well-known in Brazil, most Americans are not familiar with the musical bow’s elegant simplicity. Musical bows are the most popular and widespread traditional string instrument found throughout sub-saharan Africa. Due to the transatlantic slave trade, African slaves carried the idea of their beloved musical bow to Brazil. There, the berimbau is a symbol of resistance to oppression. Both in Brazil and in the US, Arcomusical is hard at work reimagining what the instrument can do. Critically, Arcomusical believes that Black Lives Matter. For according to Asa Philip Randolph:

“Maybe our forefathers and mothers all came to this great land in different ships, but we are all in the same boat now. We all live in the same house. The American house.”