Music Education Policy Development and Advocacy in East Africa

Indigenous education used music as a medium of instruction, with knowledge transmitted directly and indirectly. One would think that a subject so significant would get automatic curriculum space in modern education. Yet countries have had to grapple with the need to explain why music education should receive government funding and be accorded space on the school time table. This presentation will highlight how selected African countries have dealt with issues of music education and what music educators and patrons have had to do in order to create space for music learning in and out of school. This will focus on policy and the modes of advocacy resorted to by different sectors of society. These will serve to record lessons learnt and document crucial factors to consider when engaging in advocacy and policy development in Africa.