{"id":58339,"date":"2025-03-10T09:55:00","date_gmt":"2025-03-10T13:55:00","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/emu.edu\/now\/news\/?p=58339"},"modified":"2025-03-10T09:57:04","modified_gmt":"2025-03-10T13:57:04","slug":"a-royal-tale-multihyphenate-musician-makinto-finds-his-second-act-at-emu","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/emu.edu\/now\/news\/2025\/a-royal-tale-multihyphenate-musician-makinto-finds-his-second-act-at-emu\/","title":{"rendered":"A Royal Tale: Multihyphenate musician Makinto finds his second act at EMU"},"content":{"rendered":"\n

Editor\u2019s Note: This profile is the third of six stories about students and alumni leading up to LovEMU Giving Day on April 2. For more information about the day and how to donate, visit: love.emu.edu<\/a><\/em><\/p>\n\n\n\n

Makinto has pretty much done it all. The Liberian-German musician, storyteller, educator, worship leader, Mennonite pastor, activist\u2014honestly, there are too many descriptors for him to name here\u2014has played piano for Pope John Paul II at the Vatican and for Nelson Mandela in Germany. He\u2019s traveled the world extensively, performing at venues such as Madison Square Garden in New York, the Sydney Opera House in Australia, and for a crowd of 200,000 at Brazil\u2019s largest soccer stadium. His humanitarian work in Africa and recognition as an international recording artist earned him the title of Goodwill Ambassador for Peace and Development for an agency<\/a> of the United Nations.\u00a0<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Just about the only thing he hasn\u2019t done is attend a four-year college. He simply never had time for it during his four decades as a global performer. Thanks to the flexibility of EMU\u2019s online and hybrid courses as well as the generosity of donors through the seminary scholarship, Makinto<\/a> can now check that item off his list. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

The single-named polymath is a second-semester graduate student at Eastern Mennonite Seminary, pursuing a master\u2019s degree in Christian leadership. His wife, Mukarabe<\/strong>, first pulled him into the orbit of EMU, enrolling at the Center for Justice and Peacebuilding at the start of last year. <\/p>\n\n\n

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\u201cIt would be impossible for us to finance two degrees if it weren\u2019t for the largesse of the donors through the seminary scholarship,\u201d Makinto said. \u201cWe\u2019re very grateful for that.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n

During the COVID-19 pandemic, he earned a two-year associate\u2019s degree. Along with his 15 years as a pastor, he had enough equivalent experience to enroll at the seminary. \u201cIt\u2019s great that I\u2019m able to participate in a master\u2019s program based not just on academic history but also on life history,\u201d he said.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

One of his earliest impressions of EMU came during a visit to campus in November 2023 for the annual Music Gala Concert<\/a>. Makinto, the featured performer of the night, put on a dazzling show as he played the djembe<\/em>, kalimba<\/em>, flute and piano. That evening, after touring the campus and meeting a great number of people, Makinto said he and his wife \u201cresonated really well with EMU.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\u201cWe felt at home here,\u201d said Makinto. \u201cEveryone felt like family.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n

The couple, who immigrated to the U.S. in 1999, lead Amahoro International<\/a>, a nonprofit dedicated to giving hope and restoring dignity to Burundian refugees and equipping them to participate in the transformation of African communities. The word \u201cAmahoro\u201d comes from the Kirundi (Burundian) expression for peace that conveys blessings, well-being and fullness of life. The organization is a Conference-Related Ministry of Mosaic Mennonite Conference.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Makinto said that he\u2019s working on bringing an initiative called \u201cAmahoro Drumming for Peace\u201d to EMU. The program would bring people from diverse backgrounds together to make music and reflect on community.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

He said that he\u2019s excited to become part of EMU\u2019s global network of partners and alumni to contribute to and collaborate on peace initiatives. \u201cWe can build something together,\u201d he said.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Makinto and Mukarabe live in Harrisonburg with their son Jo\u00ebl, the youngest of their six children. Makinto can often be found at Martin Chapel on Tuesday mornings leading worship music with a bright smile and joyful spirit. He will perform as a guest artist at Love, Joy & Peace: A Choral Celebration! <\/em>on Friday, March 14, at Lehman Auditorium. The concert will bring together three choirs and showcase a piano collaboration between Makinto and Dr. David Berry<\/strong>, director of the music program at EMU. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

Your generous support helps students like Makinto pursue a quality college education without financial barriers. Join us for the 9th annual LovEMU Giving Day and contribute to the scholarships that empower future EMU students. Together, we can help write EMU\u2019s next chapter. <\/em><\/p>\n\n\n\n

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Read the previous profiles in our A Royal Tale<\/em> series:<\/p>\n\n\n\n

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A Royal Tale: Nursing alumna Olivia Beiler \u201923 finds purpose in patient care<\/a><\/blockquote>