Previous activities

Activities in 2008:

• Three new countries are invited to participate in the programme: Tanzania, Lesotho and Mpulanga in South Africa

• Satellite centres are to be set up in the nine participating countries as part of a decentralisation process

• The number of Musical Arts Education Action Teams in the participating countries is to be increased by 108

• Workshop activities continue, and emphasis is placed on giving local teachers the skills to instruct colleagues in their district

• A number of concerts will be held in the participating countries, and one selected group will be given the opportunity to take part in an international folk music festival in Nepal

• A CIIMDA-SADC festival and conference will take place in one of the participating countries

• The production and distribution of instruments by traditional instrument-makers continues

• The compilation, adaptation and publication of traditional musical material for teaching in schools continues

Activities in 2007:

In 2007 CIIMDA held a SADC music and dance festival in Livingstone, Zambia. Several hundred children and teachers from Namibia, Zambia and Malawi presented traditional African dances with original costumes and rituals.

The festival was a huge manifestation of traditional African dance and music. It showed that when these art forms are given the chance to live they are expressed with enormous personal commitment and strength. Such cultural meetings across national boundaries are crucial for inter-personal communication and exchange of experience. It is particularly important for children to meet other children and to form friendships and feel they are appreciated.