To build a global network of musicians and youth volunteers to deliver environmental education through the catalytic power of music.
A global community that stewards the Earth, in which the memorable, emotional, and unifying power of music contributes to the balance between humankind, nature, and society.
To build a global network of musicians and youth volunteers to deliver environmental education through the catalytic power of music.
A global community that stewards the Earth, in which the memorable, emotional, and unifying power of music contributes to the balance between humankind, nature, and society.
Mozambique is a beautiful, tropical country located in southeastern Africa. Its shores have dazzling white sands and jewel-blue oceans. Hills gently slope throughout most of the country, rising into high central plains and northern mountains. Mozambique’s fertile soil is lush with abundant agriculture and fauna irrigated by the Zambezi river that winds through its midsection. This country is home to 2.5 million people and is positioned between mainland Africa and Madagascar.
Portuguese is Mozambique’s official language, but indigenous languages are widely spoken as well. Mozambique is home to some of Africa’s most prolific writers and artists. Popular Mozambican music blends African and Western influences. Some well known artists include Alexandre Langa, Xidimingwana, and the musical group Eyuphuro. A major style of music in Mozambique is called marrabenta which emerged in the 1950s. Marrabenta highlights the guitar and developed during the colonial period as a method of criticizing the government in a non-threatening, musical form. Another popular style is the Portuguese fado. This style features mournful ballads often sung by women. Mozambique’s most popular traditional music is a xylophone orchestral ensemble developed by the Chopi people.
Environmental ConditionsThe Zambezi River provides plentiful water for drinking, irrigation and agriculture in Mozambique. The river is the basis for the country’s hydroelectric power industry. However, Mozambique has suffered a turbulent recent history and is extremely poor. While under colonial rule, it was drained of its agricultural and mineral products with little to no return. Following Mozambique’s independence in 1975, it was wracked by internal conflict as opposing forces struggled for control. Countless acts of warfare and terror resulted in widespread famine and disease. The environment was neglected during this prolonged civil war. Up to 3 million unexploded landmines are thought to still be buried throughout the country. Civilians and large animals such as elephants are often injured or killed by triggered mines.
After gaining independence from Portugal in 1975, Mozambique suffered a 16-year civil war. Tensions still remain between the former rebel Renamo movement and the current Frelimo ruling party and corruption is widespread. The country’s president is Filipe Nyusi, a member of the Frelimo party. President Nyusi has pledged to transform Mozambique’s economy–which is currently one of the poorest in Africa.
The most popular entertainment medium in Mozambique is television. However, the state-run TVM network is the only national television network. Antena Nacional, a state-run radio station, is a key source of information and news in Mozambique. Most towns also have operating private FM stations. In fact, the government funds dozens of community radio and TV stations. Audio/video mediums far surpass written mediums in funding and popularity due to the country’s high level of illiteracy. Media freedom is constitutionally protected, but criminal libel laws discourage total freedom of expression.
To build a global network of musicians and youth volunteers to deliver environmental education through the catalytic power of music.
A global community that stewards the Earth, in which the memorable, emotional, and unifying power of music contributes to the balance between humankind, nature, and society.
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OverviewOften called “The Kingdom in the Sky,” or, “The Roof of Africa,” Lesotho is a landlocked country completely encased by South Africa. This mountainous kingdom is comprised primarily of highland plateaus, causing many villages to be isolated–reachable only by light aircraft, horseback, or on foot. The Kingdom of Lesotho has a population of 2.2 million people.
The people of Lesotho speak primarily Sesotho and English. The Sesotho language has an extensive written body of literature as it was one of the earliest African languages to emerge in written form. Thus, music, dance and literature are often combined in traditional Sotho performances. These cultural productions often weave the retelling of ancient folktales with chanting, singing, clapping and high-kicking dances. Stringed instruments, whistles, rattles and drums are just some of the instruments that grace traditional Sotho performances.
Environmental ConditionsLesotho is a developing country. Thus, the survival of its people is heavily reliant on its natural resources. The highlands that comprise most of Lesotho are environmentally harsh. As such, the lowlands of this alpine country have very limited agricultural space. Lesotho is heavily dependent on South Africa. The Lesotho Highlands Water Project (“LHWP”) was fully initiated in the 1990s. The primary purpose of LHWP is to transfer water to South Africa. Although proceeds from this project account for 75% of Lesotho’s budget, as a result of recent droughts, the country has seen its crops wither as its water is transported to South Africa. Due to uncontrolled grazing and rushing surface water, much of Lesotho has been stripped of its natural grass cover. Desertification, soil erosion and soil exhaustion are major problems in Lesotho. Additionally, unlike in South Africa, the game and wildlife indigenous to Lesotho is sparse.
Lesotho’s head of state is King Letsie III, but the monarch has no executive or legislative powers. The prime minister of Lesotho is Pakalitha Mosisili I. Mr. Mosisili’s Democratic Congress formed Lesotho’s second consecutive coalition government.
Lesotho’s most popular entertainment medium is radio. Residents of Lesotho can receive domestic stations as well as TV and radio broadcasts from South Africa. Radio Lesotho is the kingdom’s only national station. However, commercial and private radio broadcasts are on air as well. Media freedom is generally respected in Lesotho and private press is allowed to voice opposition views. Of the 2.2 million residents of Lesotho, there were less than 84,000 internet users by December of 2011.
To build a global network of musicians and youth volunteers to deliver environmental education through the catalytic power of music.
A global community that stewards the Earth, in which the memorable, emotional, and unifying power of music contributes to the balance between humankind, nature, and society.
Malawi is a landlocked country in Southern Africa popularly known as the ‘Warm heart of Africa’ because of the warmth and friendliness of its people. Malawi is defined by its topography of highlands split by the Great Rift Valley and enormous Lake Malawi, it is bordered by Zambia to the Northwest, Tanzania to the Northeast and Mozambique to the South, Southwest and Southeast. Malawi is 118,484 Km2 in size and home to 17,563,749 people. The economy of Malawi is driven predominantly by the agricultural sector that accounts for one third of the GDP and nearly 80 percent of employment.
The Malawi people are of Bantu origin and comprise of many different ethnic groups. These include Chewa, Nyanja, Yao, Tumbuka, Lomwe, Sena, Tonga, Ngoni, Ngonde. The official languages are Chichewa and English, however, so many other tribal languages and dialects are prevalent. Malawi shares many musical traditions with its African neighbors of Tanzania, Zambia, and Mozambique. In Malawi, music is an undisputed part of everyday life. Songs break out spontaneously at home while women are going about their chores, in the gardens, at celebrations, and even at funerals. Malawians have long been travelers and migrant workers, and as a result, their music has spread across the African continent and blended with other music forms. Most of the cultural activities in Malawi involve music and use of natural resources
Malawi is endowed with a diversified natural resource base, which includes some of the most fertile soils for agricultural use in Southern Africa, 4,953 native or naturalized plant species, 700 endemic Cichlid species and contains 15% of world’s freshwater fish. However, the natural resource base is subjected to increasing pressure primarily due to agricultural expansion and household energy needs. Tobacco has been Malawi’s largest source of income and has also contributed to declining environmental condition due to curing of tobacco. There is alarming degradation of the environment causing significant loss of soil fertility, soil erosion, serious deforestation, water depletion, pollution and loss of biodiversity. These problems are exacerbated by the high population growth and low level of environmental awareness, which contribute considerably to the vicious cycle of poverty and are compounded by the HIV/AIDS pandemic.
Peter Mutharika is the fifth president of Malawi and the fourth democratically elected. The President of Malawi is both head of state and head of government. Legislative power is vested in both the government and the National Assembly. There is a cabinet of Malawi that is appointed by the President of Malawi. The judiciary is independent of the executive and the legislature. The government of Malawi has been a multi-party democracy since 1994.
The radio is the most popular medium for information and entertainment. There are several radio and TV stations that Malawians tune to and these include the state owned Malawi Broadcasting Station and several other private stations. The media is regulated by Malawi Communications Regulatory Authority. There has been an increase in the usage of internet that most music is downloaded from https://www.malawi-music.com
To build a global network of musicians and youth volunteers to deliver environmental education through the catalytic power of music.
A global community that stewards the Earth, in which the memorable, emotional, and unifying power of music contributes to the balance between humankind, nature, and society.