Benefitting country(ies): Zambia

Overview:

As part of initiation, boys leave their communities to live in a bush camp where they are taught practical skills as well as knowledge about nature, religion and social values. For their reintegration into the community, they perform the Makishi masquerade involving beautifully painted masks that represent different spiritual characters.

The safeguarding project seeks to:

• support the process of intergenerational and peer transmission of skills to younger generations, and
• promote awareness of the importance of safeguarding the Makishi Masquerade and the Mukanda among the Luvale community and among the Vaka Chinyama Cha Mukwamayi cultural grouping.

The activities include:

• capacity building for Zambian staff in the field of research and project management;
• advanced training workshops for Makishi masters to train the 8-12 year old aspiring young initiates; audiovisual documentation of knowledge and skills of Makishi masters; and
• measures targeted at raising public awareness through the formal education system and a national information campaign.

01/01/2003 - 01/12/2009 – Action Plan for the Safeguarding and Revitalization of the Cultural Space of the Holy Spirit Brotherhood of the Villa Mella’s Congos01/11/2006 - 01/12/2009 – Safeguarding of the Gulu Wamkulu, the Great Dance of the Chewa People