The Dhow Countries Music Academy has been awarded the Roskilde Festival World Music Award in November 2010 at Womex in Copenhagen.

The award is a form of international recognition given to societies or organizations that are creating musical development by emphasizing locally-based music genres - to ensure a cultural stepping stone for children and the youth in the developing world. The award was presented by the Roskilde Festival Charity Society on the background of recommendations from the Roskilde Festival, WOMEX and EFWMF (European Forum of World Music Festivals).

DCMA receivd this award for its work on maintaining and developing the musical traditions in an area where cultural development is often relegated to the background because of more basic challenges.
"It is often with good intentions that cultural projects are launched in third world countries. But its harder running the projects over a longer period so that they can make a difference that was the aim to begin with. The Dhow Countries Music Academy draws attention not only because of its purpose and level of ambition. It is also a professionally working organization that has proven its worth and managed to make a difference in its area," says Peter Hvalkof, booker of world music at Roskilde Festival, about the background for the choice of the award winner.

The 30,000 Euro received as part of the award will be used exclusively for educational activities by offering study scholarships, purchasing of instruments and study materials and the development of special music programs for children and the youth in schools and in villages.

Until now the school has received both local and international honors for its achievements so far that included the US Ambassador's Fund for Cultural Preservation (2003), The BBC World Music Award for World 'Movers and Shakers' awarded to its current CEO (2007) and The Zanzibar Music Award for special category for the most active arts and culture organization (Y-E-A-R).

For more information please also see

Press Release Roskilde Festival

Speech by Jacob Edgar, founder of Cumbancha Record Label

Acceptance speech by Hilda Kiel, CEO and founding member of DCMA

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