Dzimbanhete Arts and Culture Interactions to host Sounds of the Sacred Web Festival

Dzimbanhete Arts and Culture Interactions Trust (DACIT) continues to make its contribution to fostering creativity, preservation and promotion of cultural heritage while engaging tourism through new programming. The organization has secured a grant to implement an intense a cultural festival, “Sounds of the Sacred Web” (SoSaWeF) inspired by spirituality, tradition and culture and their impacts on social cohesion and tolerance.

The grant was awarded to them by Culture at Work co-founded and supported by the European Union. Of the 232 applications submitted for consideration, DACIT’s project SoSaWeF made it to the 112 eligible proposals and it was one of the 20 projects selected for funding. The grant will enable DACIT and its Nigerian partner Oja Cultural Development Initiative launch a festival that is build around the thematic All Afrika Village (AAV) which celebrates Africa architecture and its role in indigenous cultures and knowledge systems that define a people, by putting emphasis on identity, humanity and Ubuntu.

AAV is a one stop Afrikan village that will feature indigenous architecture from all the 54 Afrikan countries. Each country will be represented by at least 3 to 4 structures, which will be adorned with material culture from the respective regions. Thus, AAV will be a platform for cultural events that provide exceptional experiences for artists and audiences through encouraging participation and accessibility to social, cultural, recreational and educational experiences that strengthen artistic capabilities and enjoyment.

Oja Cultural Development Initiative whose mandate is to celebrate young people culture, social identity and inclusion of marginalized cultures by reawakening, promoting and showcasing Nigerian cultural heritage to the world will contribute to programming. This includes construction methods of their indigenous architecture and their indigenous knowledge systems, aspects of their intangible and tangible cultural heritage that will include songs, dances, stories, foods, art and games.

The festival and its associated programs throughout the year is intended to build bridges that foster inter-cultural interactions and appreciation that enable progressive discourse about African identity, values, norms, indigenous culture and knowledge systems. It is a neutral platform to heal, promote peace and understand different traditions and rituals by digging deep into scared traditions that contribute to the oneness of a people despite diverse cultures and belief systems.

As the hosting organisation, DACIT is very grateful to the Culture at Work Africa project, supported by European Union for supporting such unifying cultural projects.