Music and Storytelling Tell the Tale of the African Continent at the Sharjah African Literature Festival
Under the banner of promoting culture and the arts, the Sharjah African Literature Festival offered a unique experience that showcased how music and storytelling can narrate the tales of the African continent. The festival audience engaged exceptionally with the musical and literary performances that highlighted Africa‘s rich cultural and artistic heritage. Through artistic segments and engaging discussions, attendees explored both national and international methods of conveying ancient African stories in ways that resonate with modern times.
Performance by Dhow Countries Music Academy
The audience at the Sharjah African Literature Festival responded enthusiastically to the performance by the Dhow Countries Music Academy, which delivered an outstanding musical presentation on stage. The performance reflected the musical memory of Zanzibar and the Indian Ocean coast, where melodies of traditional coastal rhythms came together.
The musicians and performers presented a repertoire that combined deep melodies with traditional instruments, showcasing the richness of Zanzibar’s musical heritage. Since its establishment over two decades ago, the Dhow Academy has specialized in teaching, preserving, and promoting traditional music from Zanzibar, such as taarab, kidumbak, and ngoma. The academy empowers youth through education and live practice of these sound styles, blended with African, Arab, and Indian influences.
African Storyteller at the Festival
As part of the second day of the festival’s second edition, the Sharjah African Literature Festival featured a storytelling performance by South African artist MoAfrika wa Mokgathi. Mokgathi employed the African “griot” style to present a work of art that evokes the role of women in preserving memory and genealogy through the character of “Rakgadi” (the aunt).
The session captivated attention by offering a blend of poetry, jazz music, and traditional chanting, supported by cinematic visual scenes. The performance connected African traditions such as “Kiba” and “Malopo,” emphasizing the aesthetics of storytelling and its relationship to cultural history.
Exploring Literature as a Means of Cultural Communication
The sessions on the second day of the festival were dedicated to exploring literature as a tool for facilitating communication between different cultures. The discussions highlighted the transformations in identity amidst complex local and global contexts. They focused on the diversity of African experiences and their intersection with contemporary influences, including commonalities in children’s storytelling in African countries and the UAE.
The session titled “Shared Stories for Young Readers,” featuring Nahda Ismail, Richard Mbala, and Fatima Al-Amri, moderated by Toyin Akati, discussed the characteristics of children’s literature in Africa and the UAE. The impact of this literature is evident in its foundation on oral traditions, folktales, and social values, highlighting how it reinforces identity through addressing shared human themes.
African Voices Across Borders
The session “African Voices Across Borders” raised issues regarding the impact of globalization on African economies and cultures. It focused on the lived experiences of African migrants around the world, through contributions from Sefi Atta, Beatrice Lamwaka, Elias Wandimo, and Lebogang Mashile.
The speakers discussed issues of identity and belonging through literature and personal narratives, emphasizing the challenges and opportunities facing Africans in an increasingly interconnected world. Thus, the Sharjah African Literature Festival serves as a platform to support cultural dialogue and the exchange of ideas, underscoring the importance of understanding the multifaceted issues confronting the African continent.