According to Brazilian anthropologist, ethnomusicologist, and professorJosé Jorge de Carvalho, integrating diverse cultural knowledges into higher music education is an educational and ethical imperative. Doing so enables recognition of all groups of people that constitute a society, including those who have historically been disregarded or silenced. When it comes to inclusiveness in music education, Jorge believes the "full humanity" of these peoples are at stake.
In Brazil, Jorge founded the program Meeting of Knowledges, which welcomes Black, Indigenous, Maroon, and Afro-Brazilian senior culture-bearers (including Bengala) into university settings, to teach their musical and other cultural knowledges and practices. Founded on what Jorge describes as a “pedagogy of conviviality", Meeting of Knowledges wholeheartedly embraces the diversity of peoples and cultures across Brazil. Running for over a decade now, the program continues to grow, nationally and internationally.
