Using the power of music to break the cycle of gangsterism in the Cape Flats and beyond.

ABOUT

Join Bands Not Gangs is a non-profit from Cape Town, South Africa, that uses music to help fight gangsterism.

Founded in 2018, we work to prevent gang involvement by offering music lessons to children in high-risk communities, support rehabilitation for active gang members, and create professional music opportunities for young people, inspiring new aspirational goals and raising up a new generation of role models.

We are currently working on a documentary about our work. Release date set for 2027.

Join Bands Not Gangs is a registered Public Benefit Organization, with tax exempt status. (PBO # 930067938)

What we do

Music lessons

(Gang prevention)

We offer music lessons for children ages 7–14, taught by music teachers from their own communities, right where they live. These lessons serve three purposes: creating a safe, structured space after school that keeps children off the streets and away from gang recruitment; developing their God-given musical talent in under-resourced communities that so often goes unseen; and creating dignified work for local music teachers, contributing to job creation in the areas we serve.

Rehab Programs

(Gang intervention)

Beyond working with children, we also walk alongside gang members themselves, helping those who want to find a way out. We start by building genuine relationships through trusted community leaders, often using music lessons as a natural, low-pressure reason to meet weekly and slowly build trust. Once trust is established, we invite gang members to attend a 3–6 month rehab program, whereafter we help with post-rehab opportunities incl. job placements. The results have been extraordinary and has helped permanently break the cycle of crime for many.

Professional Music Opportunities

Join Bands Not Gangs uses music videos and professional song production as a way to bring our community into professional film and music environments. These videos have also become our main marketing tool, helping us reach TV and radio, and spreading our name and mission far beyond the Cape Flats. Alongside our official songs, we run songwriting competitions that give young people the chance to record their own music professionally and star in their own music video. We also create opportunities for our youth to perform live at stages like the V&A Waterfront and other venues around Cape Town, and organize TV and radio exposure that introduces them to new environments and builds new aspirational goals. Finally, we take them to watch live concerts, broadening their cultural horizons and showing them what's possible.

Counselling and Life skills

Counselling and life skills training are a vital part of our work — both one-on-one and in group settings. Every gang member who enters our rehab program is paired with a dedicated counsellor to journey with them through the process, and we're continually working with our community leaders to bring more of these programs into the community.

Instrument Donations

Finally, we collect second-hand instruments from the public and run crowdfunding campaigns for new ones, donating them to help launch our grassroots music programs.