CIGOGO FESTIVAL OPENS DOORS OF OPPORTUNITY FOR TRADITIONAL MUSIC ARTISTS

By Carlos Claudio, Dodoma.

The Secretary General of the Nyati Mchoya Gogo Traditional Music Group, Yaledi Petro, has said that the 17th Cigogo Music Festival has created valuable opportunities for traditional artists by increasing their visibility through television and social media platforms.

Speaking to journalists during the closing of the festival, Yaledi said the event has helped artists gain wider recognition both locally and internationally, opening doors to performance invitations and opportunities to promote Gogo culture across different platforms.

“This festival has given us a great opportunity to be seen and recognised. We often receive feedback that people have watched our performances on television and social media. That exposure helps us secure invitations to perform and makes it easier for us to promote Gogo culture,” he said.

He commended Chamwino Arts Centre (CAC) for organising the annual festival and called on government institutions and private organisations to continue supporting similar cultural events, saying they play a vital role in preserving Tanzania’s cultural heritage while creating income-generating opportunities for traditional artists.

“We encourage both public and private institutions to support and organise festivals like this. They not only preserve our traditions but also create employment and income opportunities for artists who perform traditional music,” he added.

Yaledi also highlighted his group's commitment to nurturing young talent, saying the Nyati Group has invested heavily in training children from primary school through secondary school in traditional singing, dancing, drumming, and playing indigenous musical instruments.

“Our goal is to ensure that Gogo cultural heritage is passed on to future generations while giving young people the opportunity to develop their artistic talents,” he said.

Looking ahead, Yaledi expressed optimism that the festival would open even more opportunities for the group, noting that they had interacted with visitors from several countries who showed interest in their performances.

“This is a promising beginning. We have met many people from different countries, spoken with them, and we believe these connections will open doors for international opportunities through Chamwino Arts Centre,” he said.

Yaledi made the remarks on while speaking to journalists during the closing ceremony of the 17th Cigogo Music Festival, held at the Chamwino Arts Centre.