Ready to take off:
UMOJA East African Cultural Flying Carpet

UMOJA Flying Cultural Carpet, a collaborative development program funded by the by Norwegian Ministry of Exterior now starts a collaboration with partners from East Africa.

“We believe that culture is fundamental to the development of a modern society. Culture is magic. Culture has the power to give us experience that can make us fly and fly as one. Therefore we have chosen the name:

UMOJA Flying Cultural Carpet
It is a program working for peace and development of the society through international cultural collaboration and exchange for a period at minimums four years time. Working method is the organized network. UMOJA activities focus on organizing regular annual work camps

“Creating Together”
is the motto when about 100 to 150 talented young artists, students, teachers and administrators came together for a period of two weeks. The camp offered participants an opportunity to develop and promote skills, new ideas; to interact, to gain cultural understanding and respect; to stimulate crossover work and create artistically interesting results, The artistic outcome of each year’s camp is then showcased through performances and exhibitions.

UMOJA East African Flying Cultural Carpet
After four vibrant years of experience in the Southern Africa the UMOJA organizers in Norway decided that apart from carrying on with the Southern Carpet it is time to start a second carpet in East Africa.
The Southern African Flying Cultural Carpet meant: practicing South South and North South cooperation and exchange between 11 partners from Mozambique, South Africa, Zimbabwe and Norway, creating productions that where shown all over South Africa and in Europe.
In the second East African Carpet the following partners were involved:

For Kenya - The Sarakasi Trust – based in Nairobi,
....is East Africa's largest performing arts organization. It assists hundreds of acrobats, dancers and musicians in developing their skills
....is not just a platform for artists to improve their professional techniques but is also a place for social development. www.sarakasi.org

For Ethiopia - CIE “Circus in Ethiopia” based is Addis Abbeba
…. represents circus initiatives from all over the country involving over 50 000 children
…. it was founded 1991 as an NGO for Youth and Social Development and to fight HIV Aids

For Tanziania - Bagamoyo College of Arts together with DCMA, Dhow Countries Music Academy, Zanzibar (first time performing together !)
….BCA is one of very few training institutions in Africa offering theoretical and practical training in arts. Established in 1981 BCA offers a three year diploma course programme and a variety of short courses ranging from three(3) to nine(9) months, Our courses are open to Tanzanians as well as international students www.sanaabagamoyo.com .
….DCMA is Zanzibars 1st music school. DCMA focuses on teaching traditional instruments and styles. DCMA is providing music education to anyone interested in studying music - amateurs and professional musicians. Over 500 students have registered since the opening in 2002. DCMA currently has about 100 active students. www.zanzibarmusic.org

For Norway – Norsk Kulturskolared with students of the following institutions: Kunsthøyskolen Oslo, Circus Norway, Norges Musikhøyskole

UMOJA East African Cultural Flying Carpet

1st international Camp, 11 – 25 of November, 2007 at Bahari Beach Hotel

The Moment when about 100 students came together to be a magic moment. After one year of preparation, management meetings and the creation of “national shows” the participants of each county presented the camp is the challenge for the organizing team that has an worked for a long while and given enormous professional input creating a frame for workgroups and workshops.
The process of “Creating together” culminated in an Open Air Concert on November 23rd & 24th at Mnazi Mmoja, Dar Es Salaam.

New Year's Concert in Maputo - Mozambique, 8 - 17 December 2007

Here will be young artists from Kenya, Tanzania, Zimbabwe, South Africa, Mozambique and Norway participating also a number of invited African Stars will be participating. Among those are Oliver Mtukudzi - Zimbabwe, Suzanna Owiyo- Kenya, Malaika- South Africa etc.

Visit Umoja Homepage