8th FESTIVAL OF THE DHOW COUNTRIES
JULY 1-10, 2005

MONSOONS AND MIGRATION:
UNLEASHING DHOW SYNERGIES

Dear Festival Participants and Audience,

It is our pleasure to present to inform you that preparation processes are underway for the annual ZIFF Festival of the dhow countries, 2005.  The festival shall unfold from July 1-10, 2005.

It is our intent to actively involve stakeholders in the arts and culture sector, not restricted to Eastern Africa, but who wish to contribute to an exploration of the theme: Monsoons and Migration: Unleashing Dhow Synergies. The theme signifies our intention to highlight and to explore themes and ideas which bring fresh insights to the notion of cultural diversity and its various processes. We recognise the major factor of migratory movements, the role of vehicles (and vessels) and technology in facilitating human exchange and its consequences. Further, we will continue to develop a discourse on the Indian ocean seascape and its cultures and narrative ties which are sustained both historically and within the din the contemporary age.

Along with movement comes settlement and the continuing emergence of cultures. Apart from old Indian Ocean settlements, we are seeking to encourage insights on more recent settlements such as that which has taken place in Malindi, Kenya; evolving as it has a distinctive ethos of being which incorporates elements of an Italian presence.

Festival 8 shall examine, experience and explore the theme through:

Films: Screening Programme:

The international film festival featuring a selection of films from the Dhow Region and its diasporic communities throughout the world will contribute to and provide challenging insights on the festival's theme.

A special selection on films which look at the issue of slavery will be featured. Echoing the intentions of the recently launched UNESCO Slave Route Project, this focus within the screening programme aims to promote "..historical truth, peace, development, Human Rights, memory and intercultural dialogue."

The screening programme will also showcase the work of individual directors who in some way exemplify aspects of their national film industry.

Film Industry Events:

Discussions on ideas for workshops, seminars and master classes are in progress and proposals for specific events are most welcomed. ZIFF is particularly keen in 2005 to help facilitate creative meetings and brain storming sessions among film (and other creative) professionals of various specialist sectors: cinematographers, screenwriters, directors, editors, producers; in order to stimulate possibilities of cross-country, cross-cultural, co-productions linking industries and resources across the dhow region.

Music/Performing Arts:

The main ZIFF Music program focuses on the musical narratives of the dhow region. It shall also host, on July 3, a Taarab Day as tribute to the 100 year old Malindi Taarab orchestra. Within this, we invite the participation of taarab interpretators from other countries.  Another half day has been dedicated to the 'cult of the sea' in which the Dhow captains and sailors have been invited to display some of the sung rituals and gestures which accompany their world to and at sea.  Finally an international DJ showdown is proposed. To achieve this, names and support for DJ's from as many countries of the world that can participate in this closing day event are sought.

Most significantly, a music business conference dealing with the questions which have emerged regarding the state of the East African music industry shall be held from July 3-5, 2005.  Invitations are extended to those who can provide insights into handling the serious challenges the industry is confronted with. Again, cultural sector stakeholders are invited to suggest and support groups who would expand, challenge the musical themes in the festival. The film music composition, master class will also continue. Additional facilitators are sought. The aim is to not only strengthen the linkages among creative professionals representing different arts but to also establish a method of better utilising African music in films and adverts.

In performing arts, a street theatre component has been included.  The performing arts program shall work with the literary forum in showcasing the spoken word in an event that will bring the local repertories in contact with other spoken word performances. Once again, spoken word performers, particularly women artists, from other countries are invited to participate. Dance, theatre, and musicians are also sought from throughout the world, particularly those who are willing to explore fusion opportunities at the festival. As with film, in music, an evening July 7, has been set aside for a specific country focus (music, spoken word, short theatre and dance) which may or may not speak to the theme. The aim, beyond showcasing performance, is an opportunity to present new ideas and approaches to performance which can benefit the East African space.

Womens' Panorama:

Among their other activities, the festival program aims to host a five day writing and visual arts residency for 8 women writers and 5 painters representative of each of the world continents. Again, participant names are sought.  The working theme for the residency is 'Migration and the Indian Ocean; Woman-seeing'.

Both film and music and performing arts will feed into and draw from the other Festival program segments including the Literary forum, The Pemba Festival, Children's Panorama and the Village Festival. As this development phase moves into pre-production, more information shall be made available.

Here are the Festival segments:

FILM AND FILM WORKSHOPS

=    MUSIC AND PERFORMANCE ARTS
=    LITERATURE
=    CULTURAL HERITAGE AND DHOW CULTURE DISCOURSE
=    WOMANSPACE/WOMENS PANORAMA
=    PEMBA FESTIVAL
=    CHIDRENS' PANORAMA
=    VILLAGE PANORAMA
=    Opening night
=    Awards night
=    Closing night

For further information contact:

Furaha Piniel Ole Levilal
Press & Publicity Co ordinator
ZIFF- Festival of the Dhow Countries
Ngome Kongwe, Mizingani Street
Box 3032   Zanzibar/Tanzania
Tel: +255 (4) 747 411 499
Cell: +255 744 575 918
Fax: +255 (4) 747 419 955
Website www.ziff.or.tz
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