Preserving Folktales, Folksongs for Future Generations
The tour from Oct. 30 to Dec. 16 was part of projects to safeguard Malawian folklore and digitize historical film footage.
LILONGWE, Malawi - In a quest to promote and preserve folktales and folksongs, the Malawi National Commission for UNESCO recently concluded a nationwide outreach tour to collect and digitize the cultural treasures, writes Alinafe Nyanda.
The tour from Oct. 30 to Dec. 16 was part of projects to safeguard Malawian folklore and digitize historical film footage.
It involved screening folktales and folksongs videos documented across Malawi since 2013, along with newly digitized historical films.
"The main essence of the tour was to preserve the folktales and folksongs so they can be passed on to younger generations," said Christopher Magomelo, a senior official with the cultural commission.
Magomelo said folktales contain the basic principles of Malawian culture that must be preserved and used in early education.
The commission plans to launch an online database through the National Library to enhance access to the folktales, folksongs and historical footage.
"This platform will enable the public to easily access a large number of cultural and historical videos," Magomelo said.
A mobile library van that accompanied the tour also gave rural children a chance to experience libraries, he said.
Mary Pearson, who attended the Mchinji stop, said: "The folktales are very important now as children do not know the folktales."
About 5,000 people participated in the 13-stop tour across Malawi.
It was organized by the cultural commission, National Library Service, Music Crossroads Malawi and National Records and Archives Services in collaboration with Rei Foundation Limited.