Benefitting country(ies): Malawi

Overview:

Popular among the Tumbuka people, the Vimbuza is practised by renowned traditional healers in a special ritual. Patients slowly enter trance, while the audience performs songs to call helping spirits. Vimbuza is a useful complement to other forms of medical treatment.

The safeguarding project seeks to:

• encourage the transmission of skills and knowledge to younger generations, and
• raise awareness about the importance of safeguarding the Vimbuza as part of traditional health practices.

The action plan includes:

• legal protections and training Vimbuza healers on intellectual property rights;
• creating an inventory based on field research in close cooperation with the practicing community;
• organizing dance festivals, thematic workshops and discussion panels broadcast on radio and television;
• developing educational programmes for young museum visitors of Mzuzu Regional Museum; and
• distributing educational leaflets in the Chitumbuka language.

01/11/2006 - 01/12/2009 – Safeguarding the Chopi Timbila tradition in Mozambique01/01/2006 - 01/12/2009 – National Action Plan for the Safeguarding of the Mugam of Azerbaijan