Successfully Concluding the Folktales and Folksongs Outreach Tour in 13 Districts in Malawi
14 January 2024
Chabuka community members watching a folktale attentively.
Lilongwe, Malawi - The Malawi National Commission for UNESCO (MNCU) successfully concluded on outreach tour across 13 districts in Malawi on December 16, 2023, which began on October 30, 2023.
The tour involved screening folktales and folksongs videos that were meticulously documented across Malawi since 2013, as well as a collection of digitised historical footage.
The collaborative efforts of the MNCU, the National Library (NLS), Music Crossroads Malawi, and National Records and Archives Services, in partnership with Rei Foundation Limited, orchestrated this cultural endeavor. A total of about 5,000 individuals actively engaged in 13 diverse locations across the country, underscoring the widespread participation and enthusiasm for this collective initiative.
Aligned with broader cultural preservation projects, the event contributed to "Safeguarding Malawian Folktales and Folksongs through Documentation" and "Transmission, Re-Housing, and Digitization of 16mm Film at the National Records and Archives Services of Malawi." These initiatives exemplify a commitment to not only documenting but also revitalizing and safeguarding Malawi's unique cultural expressions for generations to come.
Preserving Malawi's Cultural Tapestry: A Journey through Folktales and Folksongs in Mchinji
Folktales and Folksongs are an important component of Malawi's Intangible Cultural Heritage (ICH). The aim of the tour was to preserve the folksongs and folktales so that they can be passed on to younger generations. Ms. Mary Pearson, who attended the tour in Mchinji, commented: "The folktales are very important now as children do not know the folktales.
"We were very exited with this screening". All the implementing partners involved in the tour also expressed their utmost satisfaction with its outcomes and impacts.
A Mobile Library Van Offers Hands-On Learning for Children Facing Book Accessibility Challenges
Mobile library van which accompanied the tour, also provided children, who have difficulty accessing books, with an opportunity to experience how a library operates.
The MNCU, in cooperation with Rei Foundation and all implementing partners will soon launch a database within the National Library as part of efforts to enhance accessibility to the documented folktales, folksongs and digitalised historical footage. This platform will enable the public to easily access a large numbers of cultural and historical videos.
