Announcing the winners of the 5th Interregional Music Crossroads Festival
Tanzanian “Oya Theatre Group” wins 5th Interregional Music Crossroads Festival
Brussels, 19th February 2004 ---- For the second year running Dar Es Salaam, the bustling Tanzanian seaport by the Indian Ocean, hosted the Music Crossroads Interregional Festival – the fifth annual showcase of Southern Africa’s best young bands that took place from 22-25th January 2004.
The festival kicked off with the national Tanzanian finals on 22nd and 23rd January, followed by the actual competition on 24th January on the “Mnazi Mmoja” grounds, and a grand finale open-air concert on the “Slipway” beachfront on 25th January. Parallel to the competition, the musicians attended workshops specially catered for their interests, on Communication and Emotions, Voice Warm-up, Instruments and HIV/AIDS.
Bands full of talent and energy from Mozambique, Zimbabwe, Malawi, Tanzania and, for the first time, from Zambia, all previously selected through national finals, competed for the prizes that included tours, live performances on the radio, studio time and musical instruments. The Oya Theatre Group (photo) from Tanzania won first prize – a European tour and the opportunity to take part in the Sounds of Wisdom Swahili Music Festival in Zanzibar that took place from 13th-15th February. Oya is an acronym for “Opportunities for Young Artists”, and the band’s very visual act is based on traditional Swahili rhythms and dance. Traditional drums, steel pan drums, marimbas and shakers are the ingredients of their music, however more instruments will be added for the European tour. The jury was impressed by their outstanding energetic performance. Stig Asp, Music Crossroads Project Director, said: “They really explode on stage!” The members of the band, five boys and two girls, are aged between 17 and 21.
The three-piece hip-hop act Man Nok Man Kill, also from Tanzania, was another favorite of the jury. They won recording software and the chance to make a professional demo recording. Individual prizes (instruments) were rewarded to members of Gwindingwi Rine Shumba (Zimbabwe), the Crucial Lions (Zambia) and the Rare Roses (Zambia). Exceptional band members from Gwindingwi Rine Shumba and the DCMA Taarab Orchestra (Zanzibar, Tanzania) will take part in the Swedish Ethno camp.
After previous Interregional festivals in Harare (ZIM), Maputo (MOZ) and Dar es Salaam (TZ), JMI has decided to hold next year’s event in Malawi in January 2005.
Dag Franzén, Secretary General of JMI, commented “We tend to be modest within the Jeunesses Musicales network but after hearing from independent sources that Music Crossroads is not only the largest youth empowerment project in Africa, but probably in the world, I must say that I’m very proud of the success of this fantastic project.”
Music Crossroads is a unique youth empowerment through music initiative that combines workshops, festivals and competitions to promote traditional and contemporary African music played by young musicians. It aims to empower African musicians between the ages of 15 and 27 and, in the long-term, to build a self-sustainable cross-border youth music structure in the Southern African Development Community.
Initiated by JMI in 1996, festivals have since then been organized in Zimbabwe (1996), Mozambique (1998), Malawi (1999), Tanzania (1999) and Zambia (2003), bringing together over 15,000 musicians and reaching a total audience of more than 100,000. For many young musicians, these are unique occasions where they can meet with musicians of their own age and learn from professionals from the music field.
Music Crossroads also promotes self-awareness, initiative and creativity, respect, knowledge and understanding. It aims to bring people together whatever their nationality, gender, religion or social background. Music Crossroads also strongly encourages the participation of young women in music. It tackles HIV/Aids related issues during "Relationship workshops", which give the participants the unique opportunity to discuss sexuality, gender and relationships and learn how to take personal action against the further spread of HIV/Aids.
The program has received support from UNESCO, SIDA and NORAD.
Source and information:
Sophie Putcuyps
JMI Communications
Jeunesses Musicales International
Palais des Beaux Arts
Rue Royale, 10
B-1000 Brussels
Tel: 32-2-513 97 74
Fax: 32-2-514 47 55
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