Zanzibar’s Dhow Music Academy strikes gold at the UNESCO Awards in France

PARIS: THE Dhow Countries Music Academy (DCMA) of Zanzibar has made history after being announced as the winner of the 21st UNESCO-Sharjah Prize for Arab Culture during a ceremony held at UNESCO Headquarters in Paris, France.

The academy received the prestigious award in recognition of its significant contribution to preserving, teaching, and promoting taarab music heritage as well as cultural traditions from the Indian Ocean and Arab regions.

DCMA representative Haldah Am Al-Kanaan attended the ceremony in Paris and received the award on behalf of the institution.

DCMA is the only music academy in Zanzibar dedicated to teaching traditional instruments and various forms of traditional music, including taarab, kidumbak, and ngoma. The academy has brought together students from different countries and various age groups with the aim of promoting and preserving musical heritage.

Speaking during the ceremony, UNESCO Director-General Professor Khaled El-Enany praised the academy for its innovative efforts in protecting and promoting Arab and Swahili musical heritage.

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He said judges from different continents were impressed by how DCMA has used music as a tool to connect diverse cultures around the world, as well as its learning environment that brings together students from different backgrounds.

The DCMA leadership said the award is a great honour for Zanzibar and Tanzania as a whole and will serve as a motivation to strengthen efforts in preserving and promoting taarab music and traditional culture for future generations.

The ceremony was also attended by Tanzania’s Ambassador to France and Permanent Representative to UNESCO, Ambassador Saidi Othman Yakubu, who witnessed the historic achievement and congratulated the winners for promoting Tanzania through arts and culture on the international stage.

The UNESCO-Sharjah Prize for Arab Culture was established in 1998 through a partnership between UNESCO and the Government of Sharjah, United Arab Emirates (UAE). The award is presented annually to individuals or institutions that make outstanding contributions to the development and promotion of Arab culture and the strengthening of intercultural dialogue worldwide.