21/07/2005 ::
In commemoration of Norway’s 100th anniversary as an independent nation, the Norwegian Embassy in Maputo, Mozambique supported two different events. One of them was a Freedom of Expression conference in Maputo 9th – 11th of May (see independent article). The other was a cross cultural show on the 17th and 18th of May of music and dance, organised by the UMOJA - Cultural Flying Carpet programme.
The show included more than 100 youths from respectively Zimbabwe, South Africa, Mozambique and Norway and constituted of a mixture of traditional Norwegian and African dance and music and modern instruments and expressions. The show was arranged in connection with the annual UMOJA-camp that took place in Maputo, Mozambique this year. The camp took place 9th – 18th of May and constituted of various cultural workshops, drum sessions and cross cultural exchange of music and dance. On the Norwegian national day 17th of May, the UMOJA-group displayed their energetic cross cultural show to the Norwegian community in Mozambique and to other special invited guests at the Franco Mozambican Cultural Centre in the middle of Maputo. The day after, 18th of May the UMOJA-show was run twice for a broader audience, which included the general public and secondary schools in Maputo. The show was received enthusiastically by the audience and was also sent on national television.
UMOJA - Cultural Flying Carpet is a collaborative development programme, which is supported by Norad and runs from 2003-2006. The UMOJA-programme involves the participation of 11 cultural institutions from four different countries: Mozambique, Zimbabwe, South Africa and Norway. There are about 150 talented youngsters, teachers, administrators, and professional artists at the camp each year. They all come together for a period of two weeks to develop and promote skills, new ideas and to interact to gain cultural understanding and respect. The artistic outcome of each year's camp is then showcased through performance and exhibitions.
Marius Rohdin Karlsen