Zanzibar music academy launches campaign to support young students

The Change Lives in Zanzibar Through Music campaign, which was launched via the Global Giving website, will run until 31 December. It is intended to give about 30 young people the opportunity to develop their talents at the academy.

“The youth of Zanzibar have minimal access to music education of any kind,” the DCMA said in a statement. “The DCMA gives them a chance to study music and employment.

"As an NGO, the DCMA is primarily supported by international donors but the donations it receives are not enough to cover the costs of education for all of our students. Most of these students cannot afford to pay tuition fees, meaning free education is their only chance to grow.

The DCMA said 23.3% of Zanzibar’s young people were unemployed. "The DCMA uses music as a tool for youth empowerment. Thanks to the DCMA they enjoy local and international music careers,” it said, adding that the potential funding would "nurture the students to become well-educated musician-performers having an understanding of the place of music influenced by the traditions of the dhow countries and other music cultures from around the world”.

DCMA fundraising manager Aliko Mwakanjuki told Music In Africa that funding was the biggest challenge at the academy.

“We have DCMA community programmes that help with small donations," he said. "We communicate with local business for financial support. We also try to talk with donors and embassies as well as apply for grants.”

Mwakanjuki said the DCMA was playing a crucial role in the East African archipelago. “We are creating an open space for musicians by giving them space for rehearsals and to create job opportunities through the tourism sector.

"Through the DCMA, we promote traditional Zanzibari music internationally and preserve Zanzibari heritage. We are also coordinating international projects with musicians and educators from other countries, which helps to stimulate international exchange," he said.