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Dear Partners and Friends,

The Music Crossroads Tanzania Committee would like to confirm dates for the National Festival that will take place in Zanzibar, as the 10 th, 11th and 12th of May 2007.

Regions participating are: Mwanza, Arusha, Iringa, Dodoma, Morogoro, Tanga, Coastal Region, Dar es Salaam and the Zanzibar Island.

The qualifying groups who passed through their respective Music Crossroads Local Festival workshops and won a chance to represent the region through competing in the concert/competition are briefly introduced below .

LOCAL FESTIVAL REPRESENTATIVES

Mwanza Local Festival (11 - 13 August 2006)
· Hangano Cultural Troupe – A group of eight, who play a fusion of traditional and modern. They have performed in the Music Crossroads Mwanza Local in 2003, 2004, 2005 & 2006. This will be the third time round that they will be Mwanza representatives in the Music Crossroads National festival.

Arusha Local Festival (18 - 20 August 2006)
· Tanzanite Sanaa Group – A traditional group of eight members who come from Arusha Lemara and have been together performing for four years. They have been part of locally organized events and different campaigns; both political, social development/HIV awareness.
· VJ (Victor John) – This 16-year old male solo-artist who performs 'hard-core' hip – hop, is very confident on stage. He started performing at the age of ten and wants to make people appreciate hip – hop and take it to the next level. ''Hip – hop is a language and tool for the people… who are fighting for a better change in the society'', said VJ.

Iringa Local Festival (1 - 3 September 2006)
· SPW Talent – This group has eight members, three females and five males who live in Iringa Municipal and have been together for four years.
· The kind of music they play is a fusion between traditional and modern music. They have been part of festivals and activities in Tanzania such as; The ISHI Campaign, Participated several times in the Music Crossroads Iringa Local, Political Campaigns and SPW organized festivals/concerts. Besides music they also volunteer by educating their peers.
· Wanyonge – A solo-artist, who also performs with SPW Talent at times, he does bongo flava and is new to the music industry. He also volunteers by educating his peers.

Dodoma Local Festival (15 - 17 September 2006)
· Yange Yange – A group of three male members, playing traditional gogo music using instruments such as zeze, karimba (thumb piano) and ndono. They have been together for eight years. They are situated in Dodoma village called Makole. They have performed in festivals in Zanzibar, Music Crossroads Dodoma Local 2005 and 2006, as well as the Festival Mundial in the Netherlands.
· Sungura Ngoma – A group of six that has one male and five females, who are all instrumentalists and vocalists. They come from the outskirts of Dodoma from the Chamwino district, Chilomwa Village that makes their work to be recognized by a few people.

Tanga Local Festival (11 & 12 November 2006)
· TC Family – A trio that perform bongo flava, who have been together for six years. They come from different parts of Tanga and have a dream to making it big in the industry.
· Dominique – A solo-artist performing bongo flava and his second time to be in the Music Crossroads Tanga Local.

Morogoro Local Festival (18 & 19 November 2006)
· Nungunungu – The duo, singing acapella in the r 'n' b and hip - hop style; have a very unique style, which includes a flute that adds to the melody. They have been performing together for six years still trying to get recognition in the industry.
· The Explosion – A solo- artist who performs bongo flava and lives in the main town. He has been invited to perform in different local concerts around Morogoro. He has been part of the Music Crossroads Morogoro Local in 2003, 2004, 2005 and 2006. His perseverance in the Local festivals has finally won him a ticket to the National in 2007.
· Mr. White – A solo-artist who performs zouk and hip-hop. He is a young artist with aspirations to make it big in the industry.

Coastal region Local Festival (25 & 26 November 2006)
· Bagamoyo Spirits – A group of eight members, who play a fusion of traditional and modern music. They have been performing for the past three-years and live in Kasanga, Bagamoyo. They have performed in different festivals: the Annual Bagamoyo Music Festival, Music Crossroads Bagamoyo Local 2004, 2005 & 2006 and other festivals in Dar es Salaam.
· Msafiri Zawose – A solo-artist who also plays with a group called Chibite. He plays various instruments such as the fourteen-string zeze, karimba, ndono in which he also has the skill of making. He began his music career professionally at the age of six following the footsteps of his late famous father Dr. Hukwe Zawose. He has performed (as the group) in several festivals; Festivals organized at the home grounds where his family stays, festivals organized by the Bagamoyo College of Arts, festivals in Zanzibar, Kenya, Sweden and Japan.

Dar es Salaam Local Festival (2 & 3 December 2006)
· Makacha – This all male band of six, play percussion and blowing instruments. They are also all vocalists that contribute to the music quality. They also have exceptional skills in crafting traditional drums, where they show artistic skills. They have been together for two –years,
· THT Band – A group of eight coming from a school of music and dance, have been performing together for one-year. They have performed at different festivals: Tanzania Gospel Music Awards, Kilimanjaro Music Awards, Fiesta, Stella Attoir festival; different events organized by Coca-cola, Celtel, TBL, and festivals in Zanzibar.



Zanzibar being the host of the National festival, will combine their Local festival with the National festival. Please refer to the initial program of the festival that is attached to the email.

For further information on the National Festival or the Music Crossroads Program please use the following contacts:
+255 754 091 883 (Edward)
+255 754 949 593 (Kellie)
+255 22 246 0384 Office/Youth Center