An annual International Ethnomusicology Symposium took place yesterday at the Department of Fine and Performing Arts of the University of Dar es Salaam.

This year’s event brought together over 200 scholars, musicians, students and others interested in the study of the music traditions of East Africa, Central Africa and Southern Africa.

The symposium coordinator, Prof Mitchel Strumpf of the Department of Fine and Performing Arts of the University of Dar es Salaam, told news men that all interested people were welcomed and attended. Admission was free for all.
The ethnomusicology symposium is an international event where lectures are delivered and music performances are made.

This year, participants came from Kenya, Malawi, South Africa, Sudan, Uganda, Zimbabwe, the US, Austria, Canada, Italy and South Korea.

Keynote lectures were presented by Prof Gerhard Kubik who has studied and written about the music traditions of Tanzania and East Africa in general since 1960 and Prof Frank Gunderson who has researched historical music traditions and specifically the music of the Wasukuma and has published widely in the field.

Mr Ludumo Magangane, a South African choral director led evening choral workshops and also gave a presentation on choral transcriptions.

The Goethe Institute in Dar es Salaam, the Swiss Programme for International Development, the US Embassy in Dar es Salaam and the Tanzania Cigarette Company financially supported the event.

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