Lagos Sistema exists to give every child, regardless of background, the chance to learn, play, and grow through music – and to use that experience to build confidence, discipline and community.
To empower children and youth from low-income Lagos communities through free, high-quality music education and mentorship.
A Lagos where every child has access to the tools, teachers and stage to discover their voice through music.
We remove the cost barrier to music education and pair it with life-skills mentorship, ensemble discipline, and performance opportunity.
We believe music is most powerful when it's made together. Every Lagos Sistema student learns and performs in an ensemble – not just an instrument – because that's where teamwork, listening, and shared responsibility are built.
Lessons are always free. We ask only for commitment: regular attendance, practice, and respect for the group. In return, students get instruments, tuition, mentorship and a stage – things that are otherwise out of reach for many of the families we serve.
Lagos Sistema is inspired by El Sistema-style social-music programs found around the world, which have shown for decades that ensemble music education can be a powerful engine for youth development in under-resourced communities.
We've adapted that model for Lagos – blending classical technique with the Afrobeat, highlife and gospel traditions our students already grow up with, so the music they learn to play is also the music they hear at home.
Artist | Composer | Director
"My vision for founding Lagos Sistema is to build a future where every child has equal access to music education. This idea brewed in my heart for a while, and after some encouragement from fellow musicians I worked with at OrKidstra in Canada, I knew the time was right. There is no better moment to bring a program like this—one that has become a global phenomenon—to Nigeria, a country that has emerged on the frontline of global musical impact. As we navigate the rapid technological advancements of Artificial Intelligence, music is essential for our shared future, integrating our humanity and bringing us together more than ever before."
Lagos Sistema
Singing Instructor
Percussion: Drum Kit, Glockenspiel, Marimba
Lower Strings: Cello & Double Bass
Woodwinds: Flute & Recorder
Upper Strings: Violin & Viola
Woodwinds: Clarinet & Saxophone
Brass winds: Trumpet & Trombone
Chords: Guitar
Chords: Keyboard (Piano)
