Unfortunately I don’t have much time this week so this will be short, but I wanted to give this organization a plug.  There is a local group here in town, Ngoma Afrika Performing Arts Co. (www.ngomaafrika.blogspot.com), who holds monthly cultural events in town.  A couple of representatives came out to the school the other day to invite us to attend and explain the mission of their organization, part of which is to teach traditional East African music and dance styles to local young people so that the knowledge is not forgotten.  Once a month, they hold a community event that includes not only traditional music and dance but also Afro Jazz and fusion styles.

The venue

When we first arrived, I have to admit that my heart sank a little bit.  I’ve traveled enough to have experienced my share of hokey re-enactments of “traditional” activities put on for tourists.  And this venue was empty.  Only the language school students were there, along with a few former students, and as the drummers set up I was afraid that was what we were in for.  But in the end, we had just arrived too early.  As the music got going and more people came in, the atmosphere livened up.  Soon Tanzanians and wazungus alike were up dancing.

Once the event really got going and people were spilling out onto the lawn, a dance troupe came in to perform a series of traditional dances and delicious smells started to waft in from outside, where a small canteen had been set up.  I wandered out among the food tables and art exhibition that had been set up, enjoying myself immensely.  Most of the teachers from the language school came, and it was the first real chance we’d had to just hang out socially without textbooks looming over our heads.  It was like a block party under the stars.  If you’re ever in Morogoro, I recommend checking this group and their events out!