Pamoja Arts Festival

On Saturday 30th April, the International School of Tanganyika and the local Tanzanian community came together to celebrate the Arts! From 2.00 – 6.30pm a large number of teachers, students, family and friends assembled at the Secondary School campus to enjoy a non-stop series of performances, presentations and workshops! On the Main Stage in the Courtyard the audience were treated to a wide range of dance, music and song beginning with the Amani Ensemble and the Kiwohede – IST choir. Acts following included a flute group, guitar groups, Indian dances, violin, ‘Voice’ group soloists, Pambazuko Vocal Ensemble, IST staff Ngoma and Olympio and Yatima schools. Meanwhile a series of workshops were taking place around the campus in which a variety of adults and children participated. These included workshops focusing on mime, drama, drumming, community choir, Big Animal Art, wall painting, mono printing, plus a presentation of Grade 10 MYP Drama play extracts! Food and drink was provided by the parent group, artisans displayed local art and craft products and there were exhibitions by IST Visual Arts students and Mawazo Art Gallery. The event closed as darkness fell with some fabulous Indian dance, Amani Ensemble and finally the famous Usinga Theatre fire dance! This rounded off 4 ½ hours of non-stop Arts! Many thanks go to the Creative Arts teachers of IST, to all the teaching staff who supported the event, to the parent group and the support staff, to parents and friends and of course to the students and artists who made the event possible! Events like these not only celebrate the Arts at IST and in Tanzania, but demonstrate the working links and relationships between the two!

Steve Reynolds Head of Creative Arts Secondary School