'Ngoma' is a common word in the indigenous languages of the region and its meaning is always associated with the arts - whether it be drum, poetry or song. Ngoma: Approaches to Arts Education in Southern Africa gathers together papers, testimonies and discussions about arts education in the region - with important and inspirational inputs from Ghana and Tanzania - deriving from the work and experience of some of the region's leading arts education personalities and organisations. Key colloquia from which the book draws its material are: a UNESCO Regional Conference on Arts Education held in Port Elizabeth, South Africa, in 2001; the Southern African Theatre Initiative [SATI] 'Finding Feet Conference' in Windhoek in 2003; and especially the 'Approaches to Arts Education Worldwide' Symposium, organisated with the assistance of UNESCO by the Zimbabwean Arts Education for Development and Employment organisation, CHIPAWO, at Lake Chivero and Harare in 2002.The performing arts in Southern Africa have had a dynamic and illustrious history. The traditional cultures of the region are extraordinarily rich in orature, sculpture, ritual, music and dance. Owing largely to the high degree of urbanisation caused by heavy European settlement and the exploitation of the region's natural resources, mining in particular, the traditional art forms rapidly transformed, proliferated and produced exciting new urban artistic and performance forms. The whole region today is artistically vibrant and innovative.Yet almost all of this outpouring of literary, visual and performance art has had little to do with formal arts education. Though informal arts education has played a heroic role, there is still a great need for research and development, documentation and publication, networking, training, collaboration and, above all, consciousness-raising. For it is a paradox that a region that has such a rich artistic history and current practice, has to struggle for acceptance. In general, governments, authorities, school heads and parents have a low opinion of the arts - both as a contributor to social and human development but also as a key driver in the forging of a humane, intelligent, expressive, creative, sensitive and democratic society. The region is not alone in tackling its challenges in the arts and arts education. Through the interest and support of organisations like ASSITEJ, IATA, SIDA, NORAD, DANIDA and above all UNESCO a number of important conferences and colloquia have been held and arts education organisations assisted not only to survive and grow but also to bring together similar arts organisation in different countries. In this book arts educators from Ghana, Malawi, Namibia, South Africa, Tanzania, Zambia and Zimbabwe talk to each other about their work. Getting together and discussing was very much the tenor of their meetings. Everyone agreed that it was this meeting, comparing notes, discussing challenges and inspiring each other with achievements registered in the face of all the odds that arts education in region needs. The pages of this book are alive with the words and experiences of Southern Africans committed to the arts and above all absolutely dedicated to the great mission of bringing them to children and young people and changing current negative social practices and bigotry.
About the Author: General editor, Robert Mshengu Kavanagh. Consultant Editor, Stephen Chifunyise: Born in Zimbabwe, has a masters in the performing arts from University of California, Los Angeles. Chifunyise is a doyen in Africa of the arts, arts administration and policy-making. Director of Cultural Services in Zambia and Permanent Secretary in two ministries relating to education and culture, prolific and widely produced playwright and storyteller, with a number of publications, co-founder of CHIPAWO, Principal of the Zimbabwe Academy of Arts Education and Resource Person at innumerable training workshops and conferences related to the arts and cultural heritage internationally and in Africa. Featured in the book are papers and contributions by the following - please note positions cited are those held when this book was first printed [2006]held are: Prof. L. Mbuyamba, Sub-Regional Cultural Advisor, UNESCO. Dr E. Akrofi, Department of Music Education, University of Umtata. South Africa Ms Nomazizi Rajuili, Director and Founder of Kid's Care Trust, South Africa Mr S. Sack, Director, Cultural Development, Department of Arts, Culture, Science and Technology, South Africa Dr A. Hatar, Department of Fine and Performing Arts, University of Dar es Salaam, Tanzania Ms N. Kubheka, Director of Umzabalazo and Linkfest, Bulawayo, Zimbabwe Mr N. Homerai, Chairperson, Training Committee and National Executive member of ZATCYP Mr A. Lugome, Dean of Students, Chairman of Bagamoyo Arts Festival, Bagomoyo College of the Arts, Tanzania Prof. M. Purkey, former Chairperson, Department of Dramatic Art, University of the Witwatersrand, Director, Market Theatre, South Africa Mr M. Ndomondo, Assistant Lecturer, Administrator for Children's Theatre Programme, Department of Fine and Performing Arts, University of Dar es Salaam, Tanzania Mr S. Ravengai and Ms E. Dhlamini-Maqeda, Lecturers, Theatre Arts Department, University of Zimbabwe Prof. D. Kerr, Department of Fine and Performing Arts, Chancellor College, Malawi Ms L. Mhango, Vice-President, ASSITEJ (Zambia) Prof. A. Behrens, Dean, Faculty of Humanities and Social Sciences, University of Namibia Prof. M. Mtonga, Creative Arts Centre, University of Zambia.