Tanzania’s National Cultural Festival is set to open tomorrow, August 25, in Morogoro, bringing together artists, cultural groups, young people and stakeholders from across the country and abroad for five days of cultural celebration and economic opportunities.
The festival will run until August 29 at Jamhuri Stadium, where participants are expected to showcase Tanzania’s diverse cultural heritage through music, traditional performances, arts and other creative expressions.
Speaking ahead of the festival, Permanent Secretary in the Ministry of Information, Culture, Arts and Sports and Government Chief Spokesperson, Gerson Msigwa, said preparations were complete, with participants already arriving in Morogoro.
He said the festival was part of Government efforts to preserve, promote and market Tanzania’s cultural identity while creating opportunities for citizens to earn income through the creative economy.
“We welcome everyone to this festival. It is important in building values, strengthening patriotism and unity, promoting the creative economy, opening up employment and business opportunities, and marketing Tanzania through cultural tourism,” Mr Msigwa said.
The festival is expected to bring together about 1,050 participants from Tanzania’s 26 regions and several countries outside the country.
Mr Msigwa said the programme would involve 28 cultural groups, 30 artists, as well as institutions and other stakeholders, with approximately 5,000 stakeholders and 5,000 young people expected to take part.
The participation of young people is expected to give them an opportunity to showcase their talents, interact with established artists and explore potential avenues for employment and entrepreneurship in the cultural and creative industries.
The festival is also expected to provide a platform for cultural practitioners to promote locally produced creative works and strengthen links between culture, tourism and business.
For the public, the event offers an opportunity to experience Tanzania’s cultural diversity in one place, while for artists and cultural entrepreneurs, it could open doors to new audiences, markets and partnerships.
The Government has increasingly positioned the creative and cultural sector as an important contributor to employment, business development and tourism, particularly by creating platforms through which young Tanzanians can turn their talents into sustainable livelihoods.
With participants already arriving and preparations completed, Morogoro is expected to become a focal point for Tanzania’s cultural expression as the five-day festival gets underway.
