Malawi - The excitement is growing as, with only fourteen days to go, bands from five Southern African countries (Malawi, Mozambique, Tanzania, Zambia and Zimbabwe) prepare to come together and perform in Blantyre, Malawi at the 6th InterRegional Music Crossroads Southern Africa Festival, 20-23 January 2005.

These young musicians, who represent the rich diversity of African music, will have been busy rehearsing for their big moment on the stage of the InterRegional Festival – a unique chance to perform their acts under professional circumstances and in front of a large audience. On top of that, they could be walking away with some incredible prizes: first-prize winners will be rewarded with a European tour, runners-up with musical equipment, studio recordings and airplay.

National finals in Zambia and Tanzania have already revealed some of the bands that will be competing at the Festival. Three acts from Zambia have made it to the InterRegional level: The Little Ones, a group that plays a variety of music styles, Rodrick Mungala, a 14-year old boy who plays the tonga, and EMAKS, a four-piece band including three girls who are already causing a stir.

From Tanzania, two bands emerged as national winners: Afrikali, a fusion band of traditional and electric instruments and the Taraab orchestra Kidumbak. Tanzania produced the winners of last year’s InterRegional Festival held in Dar Es Salaam: the OYA Theatre Group, whose dynamic stage performance based on multiethnic Tanzanian rhythms, songs and dance amazed the audiences in eight countries across Europe this summer (more about the tour here).

The young performers from Zambia and Tanzania will be joined by others from Malawi, Mozambique and Zimbabwe for the final “battle of the bands” in Blantyre. Guest performers include the Swedish funk-rap band Sa Funkar Det who won the chance to perform at the InterRegional Festival during the national “Musik Direkt” festival, the equivalent of Music Crossroads in Sweden.

6th InterRegional Music Crossroads Festival - Program

20 Jan
Malawi National Finals and guest performances, French Cultural Center

21 Jan
Malawi National Finals and guest performances, French Cultural Center

22 Jan
InterRegional Competition (with bands from Malawi, Mozambique, Tanzania, Zambia, Zimbabwe), French Cultural Center

23 Jan
Final concert of all bands and guests, Panorama International, Mount Source

Daytime meetings and workshops take place at the French Cultural Center

Music Crossroads Southern Africa (MCSA) is a unique youth empowerment through music initiative launched by Jeunesses Musicales International that combines workshops, festivals and competitions for budding young African musicians in Zimbabwe, Mozambique, Malawi, Tanzania and Zambia. Since its creation in 1996 Music Crossroads has enabled over 20,000 musicians from all over Southern Africa to play together and perform before a large audience, learn from professionals from the music field and discuss HIV/Aids related issues. Music Crossroads is supported by SIDA, NORAD and the UNESCO Participation Program.

[Photo by Stig Asp shows Tanzanian rap trio KGM Crew performing at the 5th InterRegional Music Crossroads Festival in Dar Es Salaam last year].