Uganda hosts international music conference

By Joseph Batte

MAKERERE University, in conjunction with the Ugandan Society for Musical Arts Education, has organized four-day   international music conference to be held at Silver Springs Hotel in Bugolobi, Kampala for July 29-to August 1, 2013.  

According to Dr. Benon Kigozi, who is the convener and chair of the international meet dubbed the 8th Pan African Society For Musical Arts Education Conference, will be more than just a ‘talk shop.’ 

“The conference whose theme is ‘Inter-cultural Approaches to Music Arts Education in Contemporary Africa will feature a broad range of keynote addresses, workshops, research papers, performances and demonstrations that will engender an exciting  exploration of important issues in musical arts education  across the continent and beyond. 

The conference, which has attracted a large number of participant from 16 countries who include professors  and lecturers from South Africa, Nigeria,US, Benin, Botswana, Dubai,  Kenya, Ghana, Zimbabwe,  will at the end of the deliberations  formulate a set of recommendation to be known as the ‘Kampala  Statement.’

Dr Benon said the recommendation will be focused on three key aspects of musical arts education research namely: a framework for the dispensation and promotion of African musical arts as expressed in teaching, performing, research and demonstration

Other are the coordinated strategies and principals for training and preparing our students to cope with the changing tastes and  geared towards  formulating a balance between pupils’ own music  and prescribed music curriculum.

The Kampala Statement will be our benchmark will be our benchmark for the future, said the Makerere don.