Why is EA music so interesting and important?

Entertain, have fun, dance, enjoy life; Ceremonial and official functions; national days; family festivities/weddings. Important for building knowledge of the history and culture.Create feeling of belonging and identity. Convey wisdom and moral values (or the opposite:Tease, discuss and criticize social and political issuesPolitical mobilisation/awareness - for good and less good reasonsStrengthen knowledge about and use of SwahiliAnd has been successful! Strengthen Swahili as a lingua franca in Eastern Africa – and strengthened the feeling of belonging together in Eastern Africa

Music in East African has developed in a fantastic way!It has developed through a combination of global, transnational, trans-cultural, local and international influences – like all music – to a rich diversity of various genres, with a genuinely distinct sound and style It has made Eastern Africa known far outside the individual countriesIt create jobs and economic opportunities in a rapidly growing cultural sector, together with dance, video, film and TV production – entertainment industry It’s vitality, energy and creativity inspires Eastern Africans – and others - and make them both proud and aware of the importance of the Swahili cultureIt can promote the unity of the citizens to overcome ethnic and religious division and motivate the youth – but could as well be used for the opposite…It has promoted Swahili as lingua franca in the region – and the greater region - and maybe in front of all contributed to build a feeling of belonging and common identity in the Eastern African Region – from the Somali Coast, Comoros, Mozambique's, Malawi, Zambia, Eastern DRC, Southern Sudan and the EAC countries.