Ministry, Drum Beats sign MoU to run Tanzania Utamaduni Festival

DODOMA: The Ministry of Culture, Arts and Sports and Drum Beats Carvival (T) Limited, based in Dar es Salaam, have signed a Memorandum of Understanding through which the latter will run the Tanzania Utamaduni Festival on behalf of the Ministry.

The MoU was signed at the Ministry offices at Mtumba in Dodoma by the acting Permanent Secretary, Mr Nicholas Mkapa and the Drum Beats Chief Executive Officer, Mr. Selestine Mwesigwa.

Speaking after the signing, acting PS Mkapa said that the Ministry had high expectations from Drum Beats in running the Festival that is the biggest in the country. “We do not mean that the government is not responsible any more we have just extended cooperation to the private sector so it can be done more professionally and in a bigger way but we will maintain the supervisory role,” he said.

The acting PS appealed to Tanzanians to turn up in huge numbers during all stages of the Festival from the grass roots to the national level as this is a national event that is aimed at promoting the Tanzanian culture.

“This will also go ahead in promoting tourism hence it is important to promote it widely to ensure the message reaches out there,” said Mr Mkapa.

Also speaking after the signing, the Director of Culture in the ministry, said the festival will be held from August 25-28 2024 in Songea, Ruvuma Region and further noted that the new cooperation between the ministry and Drum Beats is a good sign that the Festival is destined to be of a higher quality.

“There will be a variety of items including food from different communities, artifacts, clothes and a street carnival,” he said adding that the government will go all out to promote the festival to ensure high participation.

On his part, the Drum Beats Carnival (T) Limited Chief Executive Officer, Mr. Selestine Mwesigwa said his firm is all set and will collaborate closely with the ministry to ensure that the Festival is a huge success.

“We have all it takes and are ready to collaborate with the ministry to ensure that the set objectives are met and even surpassed,” he explained.