Celebrating festivals

Poem: Arts and Culture

Joy to the world
The style of my arts
Creativity!
With the aroma of my talent;
Art and culture
Facing the odds of life.

(Adapted from: Edward Kofi, "Culture Poems")

Questions on the poem

1. Who is speaking in the poem?
2. What is the poem about?
3. What do arts and culture bring to the world?
4. What lesson do you learn from the poem?

Bagamoyo Arts and Culture Festival

The Bagamoyo Arts and Culture Festival is a gathering of artists and culture lovers in Bagamoyo, Tanzania, who come together to celebrate. It is a seven-day event held in Bagamoyo, a small town in the Coast Region of Tanzania. The festival features music, dance, drama, acrobatics, and other related activities.

The festival began in 1982 when students and teachers at the then Bagamoyo College of Arts displayed their work. At first, it was held under the shade of a tree, but today, it is staged at the modern TaSUBa Theatre, which has 2,000 seats and advanced sound and lighting systems.

Over the years, the festival has grown to include participants from different countries. It highlights both traditional and modern performances, including Ngoma, Afro-jazz, Bongo Flava, Reggae, African fusion, and Taarabu.

This festival is important because it

• Brings together new and experienced artists to share experiences
• Promotes tourism, as visitors from around the world attend
• Generates revenue for the country through visas, lodging, transport, and food
• Preserves and promotes Tanzanian culture, especially the Kiswahili language.

Questions on the passage

1. What is a festival?
2. Where is the Bagamoyo Arts and Culture Festival held?
3. What activities does it feature?
4. How long does the festival last?
5. What is the name of the modern theatre where the festival is held?
6. How many seats does the theatre have?
7. Where do the festival participants come from?
8. How does the festival promote tourism?
9. What is the importance of this festival to the country?
10. Mention other festivals that you know and explain their importance.