Tanzania 8

The dance experience demands a blog post of its own. The project is called 'the Cultural Arts Centre Project at Makumira' and has the European Union, amongs others, as partners.

First we went to a piece of land that has been given to the project, where they intend to build a cultural centre. Right now there is only a stage.

From there we went back to campus and the room where the group were going to perform. There show was a new production and we were the first persons to watch their first dress rehearsal. 45 very intensive minutes!

At the centre was a young woman and she was courted by three men. One sang a very sad and sensitive song to her. The second was a Massai who danced forcefully, making sounds of cattle and also carrying a stick, which he hit the floor with several times. He was joined by four friends and the woman clearly became scared when they danced around her. So she fled.

Finally she finds her drummer.

Lastly a drummer approached her and he did it in a way which she liked. They had close eye contact and he waited for her to respond positively before every move he made.

The dance was very emotional and sensual. I thought about the discussion I had had with the students and realised that Africa really have so many arenas where the conversation around relations and especially sexuality can take place.

The last twenty minutes were a long, vibrant explosion of feelings (and sweat). We were totally overwhelmed. And impressed!

I hope that this project will be supported also in the future and hopefully could this group be invited to perform abroad. Why not in Sweden?

With this powerful demonstration of the rich, African culture, we were both ready to go to airport as well as a bit sad to finally part with Africa.

But we know that we are not parting. We will be back! And Africa will anyhow remain in us.