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Music transcends every boundary we humans create—language, nationality, religion, politics, and ideology. In a world increasingly divided by conflict and misunderstanding, music emerges as one of our most powerful tools for building bridges, fostering understanding, and creating lasting peace. From the streets of Santa Monica to the temples of Thailand, from post-conflict communities in Bosnia to refugee settlements in Uganda, music has proven time and again to be a force that can unite us when words fail. We spent a weekend in September in Cali, Colombia and the city is full of music and we danced, danced and danced.

While I didn’t make this video it is a great image it is like.

Playing for Change stands as perhaps the most compelling example of music's ability to transcend borders. Founded by filmmaker Mark Johnson after witnessing the transformative power of two painted monks performing in a New York subway station, the organization has grown into a worldwide movement that connects musicians across continents through collaborative recordings.

The story began in 2005 when American singer Roger Ridley sang "Stand By Me" on the streets of Santa Monica. Johnson then traveled the world, adding voices and instruments from Barcelona, Ireland, South Africa, India, Nepal, and the Middle East. The resulting video has garnered over 90 million views, proving that great music exists everywhere and that people deeply connect to authentic expression regardless of their background.

What makes Playing for Change extraordinary is its grassroots approach. The Playing for Change Foundation now operates 37 programs across 26 countries, using music education to address everything from gang violence and poverty to refugee crises and climate change.

Search for Common Ground, the world's leading peacebuilding organization, has pioneered the use of music as a tool for conflict transformation. During the Burundian civil war in the mid-1990s, when radio waves were filled with hatred and ethnic division, Search for Common Ground's Studio Ijambo became a beacon of hope. Two journalists from opposing ethnic groups came together to create the first multi-ethnic radio production company in the region, broadcasting stories of Burundians who risked their lives to protect neighbors across ethnic lines.

Their Peace Songs projects demonstrate music's unique capacity to move people to action where conventional speeches fail. As their methodology recognizes, "music speaks to our emotions, so it taps into our senses of empathy and compassion—something that is absolutely vital when dealing with conflict."

The concept of sound diplomacy represents a sophisticated understanding of music's role in international relations. This approach recognizes music's power to transcend language barriers and cultural differences, connecting people across national borders in ways that traditional diplomacy cannot.

Sound Diplomacy, as a consultancy, has advised over 150 clients in over 30 countries, demonstrating how investing in culture and music creates pathways to economic and social growth. They are also hiring for several positions (see below in the job section).

MasterPeace represents the democratization of peacebuilding through music and arts. This global grassroots movement inspires individuals to use their talents for peace building and togetherness, operating clubs in over 40 countries including current and former conflict areas like Afghanistan, Colombia, Sierra Leone, and Nepal.

Having served on the MasterPeace board for several years, I witnessed firsthand how their innovative approach mobilizes artists for peace. Their world's largest music competition for peace brings together professional and emerging artists from more than 68 countries to submit songs promoting peace, togetherness, tolerance, and positivity. The organization's "Music Above Fighting" documentary powerfully illustrates their philosophy: showing two people from opposing sides singing John Lennon's "Imagine" to each other through a dividing wall. This simple yet profound image captures music's ability to communicate across the most entrenched divisions.

See the short sample of the film below

MasterPeace's concerts operate on a unique principle—tickets cannot be purchased but are earned through peace-building activities. This approach transforms passive consumption into active engagement, making every concert-goer a participant in the broader movement for peace.

Emmanuel Jal's journey from child soldier to international recording artist embodies music's transformative power. Born into war-torn South Sudan and forced to carry an AK-47 as a child, Jal discovered that education and music could transform hate into hope.

His "We Want Peace" campaign, launched in 2010, demonstrates how personal transformation can scale into global movements. The song, featuring strings by Peter Gabriel, became a worldwide hit and anthem for South Sudan's independence movement. Jal's impact extends far beyond music—he's created the charitable foundation Gua Africa, received the Dresden Peace Prize and the Mattie Stepanek Peacemaker Prize, and been awarded by Ban Ki-Moon at the UN for his peacekeeping efforts.

Research supports what practitioners have long known: music possesses unique qualities that make it exceptionally effective for peacebuilding. Studies show that music can build empathy, improve cross-cultural understanding, and create safe spaces for dialogue. When people make music together, they must listen to each other, synchronize their actions, and create something beautiful collectively—skills directly transferable to conflict resolution.

In Bosnia and Herzegovina, organizations use music to address lingering ethnic tensions. As one youth activist explained, "When we do it casually through the arts, people are not aware of the impact they make, and it is often even more effective in showing the ability to work together without knowing people's background." This unconscious collaboration breaks down barriers that conscious political dialogue might reinforce.

Your own music discovery connects to this broader ecosystem of musical peacebuilding. Consider curating playlists that consciously bridge divides—featuring artists from conflict zones, musicians who've overcome adversity, songs that speak to universal human experiences.

For inspiration, check out the PCDN Impact Music playlist on Spotify which features artists using music for social change. Every song that moves you across cultural boundaries, every artist who challenges your assumptions, every melody that soothes tensions contributes to music's ongoing work as a force for understanding.

😄 Joke of the Day
How many impact investors does it take to change a lightbulb? None—they just wait for the market to disrupt darkness!

Ashoka is actively recruiting changemakers for roles in leadership, operations, youth engagement, and systems change across its global offices. Known for championing social entrepreneurs and the "Everyone a Changemaker" vision, Ashoka regularly hires for positions including Framework Change Leaders, Global Operations roles, and Communications specialists. Explore current opportunities.

On Purpose with Jay Shetty regularly features conversations with social entrepreneurs and changemakers exploring how businesses and individuals can create positive impact. Recent episodes examine leadership, personal transformation, and building movements for social good with influential figures in the impact sector. Listen on your favorite podcast platform.

Xiomara Acevedo, a climate justice and feminist leadership advocate, mobilizes individuals and communities around biodiversity conservation, climate change, and policy inclusion with a focus on women's and youth rights. Her work bridges climate action with social innovation across Latin America and the Global South, offering vital perspectives on intersectional climate solutions. Follow Xiomara on LinkedIn.