Kamoto Community Arts (Profile) Kamoto Community Arts is a community-based organisation formed in 1990. It is a theatre, music and dance ensemble, comprised of theatre for development practitioners and professional actors and dancers. Kamoto Arts' Participatory Performance Practice (PPP) addresses the experiences and interests of the communities. It uses theatre for conflict resolution, problem analysis and needs assessment with an emphasis on community participation and a focus on traditional performance. The focus area of work is both urban and rural Zambia. Kamoto participated in the expert meeting and exchange programme, ”Communicating in Conflicts” in Berlin during June 2003. http://www.sabisa.de/sabisa/index.php?partners Different groups - whether from different communities or from different sectors of the same one - could perform as part of a mini-festival where a number of local performances are shown, perhaps alongside the work of the performance group themselves. This would share the outcomes of the research process among all the stakeholders: stories, anecdotes, proverbs, games, dances, conflicting opinions and viewpoints, perhaps even strategies to overcome the difficulties expressed by the plays. Further Information and Previous Work: http://www.artmovesafrica.org/index.php?id=46 http://www.times.co.zm/news/viewnews.cgi?category=8&id=1046463156 http://www.kepa.fi/international/english/information/newsletter/2375/?searchterm=None http://www.cdcarts.org/main/what/ppp.htm http://www.cdcarts.org/ppp/htm/body/bo_prac.htm http://www.cdcarts.org/ppp/htm/body/ppp2.htm http://www.mothertongue.co.za/networking.htm http://www.jctr.org.zm/jubilee/12%20concerns.htm http://www.times.co.zm/news/viewnews.cgi?category=20&id=1117138222 http://www.maailmakylassa.fi/english/info/history/artists_1995-2008 http://www.liberationafrique.org/spip.php?article885
Key People: George Daka Once the drumming started George Daka, a tall delicate man and leader of the respected University dance company, did an invocation at the center of the circle. Speaking like a diviner, his calls were punctuated by his rattle and the ecstatic calls of his "helper," Martha Kamilo. Using the well-known performance vernacular of a traditional healer, he effectively established a sacred circle, the traditional-mythological-spiritual frame from which the performance would refer and flow. With maize (corn meal, the staple food of Africa) George outlined the performance circle, then with water and a tail switch he blessed and prepared the audience. All the while Martha, danced and called simultaneously in support and in her own ecstasy. They were preparing the circle for the arrival of the Spirits, and like the many initiations still very much a part of traditional Zambia, the circle was where the community would observe and share its mythology. The circle was a place where the magic of performance would bring together the human and mythological to retell and reaffirm deep seated values, order, and beliefs. http://www.uaf.edu/theatre/litooma/articles/zambia.html George is an highly accomplished choreographer and dance teacher in the traditional techniques of African movement. Throughout his illustrious career he has travelled the world rendering and sharing his skills with youths and professional dance companies like the UK-based company Adzido, as well as scholars of dance. http://powerinthevoice.britishcouncil.org/artists/georgechamotodaka/ 1999 IAM PARTICIPANTS: http://www.americandancefestival.org/international/iam.html Phillip Kaluba Another key senior figure head of Kamoto. Phillip, George and James founded Tikambilanie in a hotel room in Helsinki in May 2008. http://ebrain.isms.zm/media/july_monthly_meeting_attendance_list.pdf http://www.times.co.zm/news/viewnews.cgi?category=8&id=1046463156 Mary Mutinta Manzole http://www.dramaforlife.co.za/index.php/scholars/mary_mutinta_manzole/ http://www.newtactics.org/members/mary/ http://www.artmovesafrica.org/index.php?id=46 http://www.sabisa.de/sabisa/index.php?id=31,79,0,0,1,0
PROFESSOR MAPOPA MATONGA, UNZA Words of wisdom Quote: A Nyanja proverb (Chalo Ni Banthu) “The world is people”. An illustration which simply means: those who lead others must recognize and give due respect to the significant of being human; because it is through the recognition and development of significant others that significant selves can develop. (Quote from writings on cultural tenets for leadership – By Late professor Mapopa Mtonga, while at the University of Zambia. http://maravi.blogspot.com/2008/05/prof-mapopa-mtonga-dies.html Sensitisation and Education through Kunda Arts http://www.seka-educational-theatre.com/news.htm http://www.times.co.zm/news/viewnews.cgi?category=8&id=1102366273 and author of such works as below: http://www3.interscience.wiley.com/journal/118590384/abstract?CRETRY=1&SRETRY=0 http://allafrica.com/stories/200806040489.html
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