Preserving Folktales for Future Generations
A mobile library van which accompanied the tour also provided children who have difficulty accessing books with an opportunity to experience how a library operates.
LILONGWE, Malawi- The Malawi National Commission for UNESCO has expressed the need to preserve folktales and folk songs so they can be passed on to younger generations, writes Meclina Chirwa.
MNCU Senior Assistant Executive Secretary Christopher Magomelo said this after successfully concluding an outreach tour across 13 districts in Malawi.
"The tour involved screening folktales and folk songs videos that were meticulously documented across Malawi since 2013, as well as a collection of digitized historical footage," Magomelo said.
He added, "The tour was part of the safeguarding Malawian folktales and folk songs through documentation and transmission, re-housing and digitization of 16mm film at the National Records and Archives Services of Malawi projects."
In her remarks, participant Mary Pearson from Mchinji said, "The folktales are very important now as children do not know them. We were very excited with this screening, we have been reminded our old days."
A mobile library van which accompanied the tour also provided children who have difficulty accessing books with an opportunity to experience how a library operates.
The MNCU, in cooperation with the Rei Foundation and all implementing partners, will soon launch a database within the National Library as part of efforts to enhance accessibility to the documented folktales, folksongs and digitized historical footage.