Dikamawoko sweats over Egypt trip
By Sam Banda Jnr:
Dikamawoko Arts is losing hope over their participation at a festival in Egypt as they are yet to raise the targeted amount of K6 million for transport.
The group came out last month to announce that they had been invited to participate at the third edition of the Awladna International Forum for Arts of the Gifted which from February 15 to 22 2019.
The event is held under the patronage of President Abdel Fattah Al-Sisi and in cooperation with the ministries of Social, Solidarity, Youth and Sports, Tourism, Culture, Immigration and Egyptian Expatriate Affairs and Antiquities.
The organisers have invited 10 members of Dikamawoko to the forum to participate in the performances section.
However, the organisers have said that the forum will only provide full accommodation for the group throughout the forum but Dikamawoko has to cater for its own transport.
Dikamawoko Arts Director, Tawonga Nkhonjera, said Wednesday they are losing hope as they have not been supported.
“We have tried knocking on different doors for support but we have got no response. We still have some days but there seems to be no light,” Nkhonjera said.
He said the only concrete thing which has happened so far is free visas from the Egyptian Embassy and that this will only be given after they get tickets.
Nkhonjera also said the passports were also easy for them as now they are only remaining with two.
“As I said, we are losing hope but, at the same time, trying our level best to reach out to well-wishers. I just want to call upon the corporate world, the government and well-wishers to support us even if it means only five members going,” he said.
Nkhonjera said the festival is all about promotion of arts among the gifted but socially marginalised people.
“The festival aims at promoting social inclusion of people with special needs such as downs syndrome, autism, albinism and other physical challenges.
“Dikamawoko has two members with albinism and one with dyslexia,” he said.
Nkhonjera said, as a group, they also work with teenagers with special needs from Arman’s Home, some with downs syndrome and others with autism.
“We practice art therapy by engaging the teens in assorted artistic activities such as photography, dance, videography, singing and deejaying,” he said.
Dikamawoko Arts last year held afternoon sessions at Kwa Haraba Art Gallery in Blantyre showcasing traditional dances.
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