Ngoma

'Ngoma' is a common word in the indigenous languages of the region and its meaning is always associated with the arts - whether it be drum, poetry or song. Ngoma: Approaches to Arts Education in Southern Africa gathers together papers, testimonies and discussions about arts education in the region - with important and inspirational inputs from Ghana and Tanzania - deriving from the work and experience of some of the region's leading arts education personalities and organisations. Key colloquia from which the book draws its material are: a UNESCO Regional Conference on Arts Education held in Port Elizabeth, South Africa, in 2001; the Southern African Theatre Initiative SATI] 'Finding Feet Conference' in Windhoek in 2003; and especially the 'Approaches to Arts Education Worldwide' Symposium, organisated with the assistance of UNESCO by the Zimbabwean Arts Education for Development and Employment organisation, CHIPAWO, at Lake Chivero and Harare in 2002. The performing arts in Southern Africa have had a dynamic and illustrious history. The traditional cultures of the region are extraordinarily rich in orature, sculpture, ritual, music and dance. Owing largely to the high degree of urbanisation caused by heavy European settlement and the exploitation of the region's natural resources, mining in particular, the traditional art forms rapidly transformed, proliferated and produced exciting new urban artistic and performance forms. The whole region today is artistically vibrant and innovative. Yet almost all of this outpouring of literary, visual and performance art has had little to do with formal arts education. Though informal arts education has played a heroic role, there is still a great need for research and development, documentation and publication, networking, training, collaboration and, above all, consciousness-raising. For it is a paradox that a region that has such a rich artistic history and current practice, has to struggle for acceptance. In general, governments, authorities, school heads and parents have a low opinion of the arts - both as a contributor to social and human development but also as a key driver in the forging of a humane, intelligent, expressive, creative, sensitive and democratic society. The region is not alone in tackling its challenges in the arts and arts education. Through the interest and support of organisations like ASSITEJ, IATA, SIDA, NORAD, DANIDA and above all UNESCO a number of important conferences and colloquia have been held and arts education organisations assisted not only to survive and grow but also to bring together similar arts organisation in different countries. In this book arts educators from Ghana, Malawi, Namibia, South Africa, Tanzania, Zambia and Zimbabwe talk to each other about their work. Getting together and discussing was very much the tenor of their meetings. Everyone agreed that it was this meeting, comparing notes, discussing challenges and inspiring each other with achievements registered in the face of all the odds that arts education in region needs. The pages of this book are alive with the words and experiences of Southern Africans committed to the arts and above all absolutely dedicated to the great mission of bringing them to children and young people and changing current negative social practices and bigotry.