Former national librarian Gray Nyali on Saturday dared the country to invest adequate resources in supporting initiatives such as the folktales and folksongs database, which is part of promoting and preserving culture.
The retired librarian said this in Lilongwe during a community launch of the folksongs and folktales database spearheaded by Malawi National Commission for Unesco, National Library Service, Music Crossroads Malawi, Rei Foundation, Department of Museums and Monuments and Tumaini Letu.
The community launch followed the official launch, which took place at Crossroads Hotel in Lilongwe on Wednesday.
“Initiatives like these need not be neglected; these are crucial, especially in terms of preserving information for the future. If you check on the ground now, we are losing out as far as folktales and folksongs are concerned. That is why this project came into effect,” Nyali said.
- Advertisement -
He called for support towards the National Library Service and other partners for them to continue driving the project.
- Advertisement -
“There is still a long way to go. There is a need to collect more information. The good thing is that with technology, people can access these folksongs and folktales using different electronic gadgets and through the National Library Service,” Nyali said.
At the event, which was attended by several players including members of Rei Foundation, patrons were trained in how to use the database.
The project, which was initiated in 2012, has successfully documented and preserved a collection of folktales and folksongs from various districts across the country.
The database is in three languages of Chichewa, English and Swahili, making it accessible to a wider audience both locally and internationally.
- Advertisement -
Currently, it holds 257 folktales and 217 folksongs, all stored electronically.
Director of Museums and Monuments in the Department of Museums and Monuments in the Ministry of Local Government, Unity and Culture Lovemore Mazibuko recently described the database as important “because folktales and folksongs will be preserved”.
“These folktales and folksongs are disappearing; so, we need to safeguard them as well as other cultural materials for future purposes,” Mazibuko said.
Malawi National Commission for Unesco Senior Assistant Executive Secretary Christopher Magomelo also said the database would promote intangible cultural heritage and national identity.
The event was spiced up storytelling sessions and a performance by Music Crossroads Band.
