Outreach storytelling tour showcasing folktales and historical footage
31 October 2023
The mobile library van will be visiting villages as part of the outreach storytelling tour
Malawi National Commission for UNESCO (MNCU) is pleased to announce the start of an outreach storytelling tour from 30th October, 2023. This tour involves the screening of folktales, folksongs and digitized historical footage in communities, providing them with access to stories that have been passed down through generations. This is part of the "Safeguarding Malawian Folktales and Folksongs through Documentation" and "Transmission, Re-Housing and Digitization of 16mm film at the National Records and Archives Services of Malawi" projects, in collaboration with Rei Foundation Limited.
Safeguarding Malawian Folktales
and Folksongs Through Documentation
This project was launched in 2012 and is being implemented by the National Library Service (NLS) for folktales and Music Crossroads Malawi for folksongs. As one way of implementing the Convention for the safeguarding of the intangible cultural heritage which Malawi adopted in 2010, the project aims to digitally record and document folktales and folksongs to celebrate and safeguard Malawian culture. This project seeks to promote the value and significance of oral storytelling and to foster a deeper understanding of
cultural roots. As part of the project activities, NLS also conducts storytelling sessions every Saturday from 11:00am to 1:00pm at the National Library in City Centre, Lilongwe.
Transmission, Re-Housing and Digitisation of 16mm Film at the National Records and Archives Services of Malawi
This project was launched in 2017 and aims to preserve the heritage of Malawi that is contained in the reel-to-reel film collection dating from the 1950s and onwards. Through this project, over 200 historical films have been successfully digitised. This project is being implemented by National Records and Archive Services in collaboration with Rei Foundation Limited.
The Outreach Storytelling Tour
The Outreach Storytelling Tour will be conducted in 13 districts across Malawi from 30th October, 2023. The event will feature screening of footage of folktales that were filmed in the 13 districts as well as digitized historical footage that provides a glimpse into Malawi’s past. Attendees will also have the opportunity to access to a mobile library, stocked with approximately 5,000 books.
The event is open to all and free of charge. For updates on tour dates and times, please refer to the tour's Facebook page Malawi Storytelling Tour.
