The Makaramba project Transforming and Promoting a culture of Peace in the Great-Lakes region. Peace through Art and culture

The Makaramba Project is empowering the path from a culture of violence to a cultural peace (Demilitarizing the Mind). Its program uses culture and art for reconciliation and conflict coping mechanism by artistic expression, communities exchange and is promoting the diversity of culture.

his peace through art and culture program is a part of the the socio-cultural Makaramba project initiated by TRANSCEND AFRICA Network earlier in January 2008 gathering local Artists, craft groups in Kampala with mostly displaced and refugees from DRCongo, Burundi, Sudan, Ethiopia, Somalia, Eritrea, Rwanda, and Kenya. The Makaramba Project carries out various aspects of cultural and artistic activities such us drama, comptemporary and traditional dances, exhibitions, and poetry in combination with research, debates, and training. The Project aims to offer tools of expression as well as a step to self definition, and determination regarding cultural identity and self documentation of the conflict history in the region, and really introducing or creating visions for a time beyond the conflict. As a platform promoting free speech/word and democratic values, the Makaramba project provides a space for discussing culture, identity and developing coping skills for healing through art and culture. Here culture is seen as an dynamic process wich is negociated in each act unlike the different interpretations.

Why Makaramba ?

MAKARAMBA is word used in sub-Saharan Africa particularly in Zambia and D.R.Congo to lift awareness in time of uncertainty. In Zambia, the word can mean also "come and see", and in the Congo various group may use the word to point out a problem happening in the community. For example "Mokili Makaramba" was widely used by displaced people in the oriental region during the civil war in 1999 only to mean that the "world going wrong". Makaramba however is not a negative word but a term to be used for awareness, for prevention reminding us when there are something wrong within the community. That need to be solved. It is a term that allows community members the pose the question and discuss on issues to find a solution.

MAKARAMBA art initiative, it is joint initiative between young people from different background Uganda, Congo, Rwanda, Sudan, Ethiopia establish in January 2008 in Kampala. This non-profit initiative aims to support the youth, boys and girls through artistic performance, display and exhibition using filmmaking, painting, sculpture, contemporary dance, drama and photography for tolerance, acceptance and peace in the society. In the conflict ridden Great-Lakes region such a project give a mouth piece to unpopular topics, empower reconciliation with the past and build up a vision for the future. Not only war and conflict but also the dilemma of humanitarian support or aid which often influence and damaged healthy relationship towards people cultural identity in the region. Over 2 million people are displaced throughout the region. Uganda itself a respectacle of various group of refugees, and must cope with 22 years persisting conflict effect in the northern part which has spread a culture of violence causing prejudices between Various ethnic groups.

Therefore Makaramba offers a space for young people who have experienced traumatizing events notably refugees, internal displaced people, orphans, street children, victims of sexual harassment..., helping them to boost their esteem and self-confidence as well as empowering them to develop a common vision for a better future.

Blending in cultural diversity, we believe that by bonding and accepting each for their own cultural background; we can embrace together and adopt oneness that allows each one in their own way to narrate their cultural values and yet remain unbiased. Makaramba want to bring people together and foster unbiased intercultural dialogue between the North and the South.

The project targets to support a sustainable and deep structural peace by dialogue. The dualism between tradition and modernity will be transformed by a combination of drama, exhibitions, movies, radio live debates and further forms of expression. The project is to build dialogue groups within the neighboring regions.

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Thanks
Raïs Neza Boneza
www.transcendafrica.net