Welcome  ♥  to MUDA dance & music!

MUDA , a music and dance initiative for African diaspora youth in Helsinki, is an open-door creative space that welcomes every interested teenager in the city, regardless of background, to explore, share, and celebrate African music and dance. By keeping the project open to all, we foster inclusivity and turn Helsinki into a living stage for cross-cultural friendship.

The project is aimed at all teenagers aged 12-19 living in Helsinki, with a special welcome to African diaspora teens.

MUDA workshops are free and led by top professional artists. The workshops offer a wide range of dance and music styles from across the African continent. No previous dance or music training is required. The sessions culminate in public performances held at community festivals and local venues, showcasing the participants’ skills and cultural heritage.

Our mission is to empower the afro diaspora youth by giving them access to traditional and contemporary African music and dance forms while simultaneously inviting teens from every culture to join the journey. Together we build a shared sense of identity, community, and belonging that amplifies African heritage and enriches the entire city’s cultural fabric.

MUDA Music and Dance Initiative offers Helsinki’s afro diaspora teens and any teenager who wants to join a living bridge to heritage and to each other: twenty-four weeks of rhythm and movement that build skill, pride and friendships; two semesters of expert coaching and shared stages that turn cultural memory into city-wide celebration; and a replicable, evaluated model ready to keep Helsinki dancing toward a more inclusive future.

MUDA project is supported by the Finnish Cultural Foundation and the Sibelius Academy of the University of the Arts.