Namibian Tales: Engaging disadvantaged communities in Namibia into the global music market
The project aims to support musicians from Namibia’s San community in their effort to become cultural entrepreneurs, by strengthening their capacities and creating new markets for their musical products
The Museums Association of Namibia is an NGO responsible for the regional development of museums that uses a community-based approach, in the framework of the new National Arts, Culture and Heritage Policy. A collection of musical archives reflecting the diversity of musical performances within the San community is created to set the foundations for a National Museum of Namibian Music. The capacities of musicians from San communities are developed. A distribution strategy that aims to promote Namibian musicians, particularly those from the San community, is elaborated and implemented. An online network of artists from the Namibian music industry is created
- Creating an archival collection of at least 50 individual performances
- Organizing capacity building workshops, including practical exercises, on musical management and international music distribution and marketing
- Implementing a promotion strategy of Namibian music, which includes: the production of new musical compositions mixing traditional San music with other forms of popular music, as well as the organization of at least five performances in five different countries to promote San music at the international level
- Establishing an online network to support the promotion of Namibian music, in collaboration with the Ministry of Education, Arts and Culture, as well as the Museums Association of Namibi
- Strengthens capacities and empowers musicians from marginalized groups: through training, the creation of spaces for expression and opening access to new and wider markets, the project aims to tackle extreme poverty within San communities
- Increases and promotes the active participation of new actors in the cultural and creative industries: the project promotes the active participation of socially marginalized groups and specifically targets women and youth
- Promotes access to new markets: the tour, the online network and database, as well as the training activities and performances with European musicians, will facilitate the promotion of San and Namibian music at the international level
Created new artistic content with local performers from Namibia's San community. Released a collaborative album entitled "Kalahari Encounters" in September 2017 alongside two music videos. The album "Kalahari Encounters" by the Namibian Tales received the Best Produced World Music Album award at the Netherlands Awards 2017.
