News

By Zamda George, CMU

The National Arts Council (BASATA) presented the University of Dar es Salaam with a prestigious recognition at the Tanzania Music Awards (TMA) ceremony held recently in Dar es Salaam.

The recognition, which was presented by BASATA Executive Secretary, Dr. Kedmon Mapana,  was indicative of  the University’s long-standing commitment to the development of Music industry in the country.

“This year, for the first time, the National Arts Council, under the Ministry of Culture, Arts and Sports, is cherishing the contribution this institution [UDSM] has made in the development of arts, especially in the field of music in Tanzania. Most of us are aware of the many things that we are proud of from the University of Dar es Salaam in this regard,” said Dr. Mapana.

Dr. Mapana highlighted that the University had been offering a bachelor’s degree in music since 1974, and  it also offers both a master degree and a PhD in Music as well as other Creative Arts undergraduate and postgraduate degree programmes.

A historic recognition

Dr. Mona Mwakalinga, a faculty at the Department of Creative Arts and the Dean of the School of Journalism and Mass Communication (SJMC) of the University of Dar es Salaam, who received the award on behalf of the University, thanked BASATA for such a historic recognition.

“This is the first award for the University of Dar es Salaam in this regard. I must acknowledge that when I walked in here, I was walking from one table to another because there are many young musicians here as alumni of the University of Dar es Salaam, at the Department of Creative Arts”, said Dr. Mwakalinga.

Dr. Mwakalinga emphasized that it was important to educate young people about their own culture and encourage them to value it. She noted that the Department of Creative Arts at the University of Dar es Salaam has played such a role diligently.

“No one has succeeded by copying others. Everyone succeeds by loving what is theirs and being able to add other things to it to make it more valuable and recognizable. Therefore, the University of Dar es Salaam, through the Department of Creative Arts, is doing this every day”, she added.

The award is an inspiration to the University of Dar es Salaam, and it serves as a reminder of the important role that academic institutions can play in promoting the arts and preserving cultural heritage. The University remains committed to its mission of providing quality education and training to young Tanzanians, and this award would indeed serve to strengthen that commitment.