Music on Troubled Grounds – South Africa

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Music on Troubled Grounds South Africa is an intercultural collaborative platform between young musicians from South Africa, Palestine, Israel and Scandinavia. The participants develop new skills and raise their competence in social inclusion and positive social change through music and creative expressions. They have a will to practically implement the knowledge gained from the project, and its methodology, in their local environment. Music on Troubled Grounds South Africa is a continuation of the projects Our Songs for Tomorrow (2009) and Music on Troubled Grounds (2011).

The project took place in Polokwane, South Africa on January 30 – February 9. The main activities were:

A ten-day intercultural workshop where the young musicians met to participate in a comprehensive programme of workshops in music, creative expressions and identities. The participants composed music together and shared their, and learned of other’s, traditions, identities and surroundings.

A final event in the form of a concert that took place at the end of the week in Seshego.

Panel discussions and seminars were held, where the participants invited the public to listen to and learn from their experiences of how to practice cultural diplomacy.

A lecture series on the possibilities of music and culture to contribute to social inclusion and positive social change is held in Malmö after the completion of the project. The participants and the project staff talks about their experiences, the methodology isdiscussed and the audience is able to experience a real life Music on Troubled Grounds workshop.

Music on Troubled Grounds is initiated, produced and implemented by Spiritus Mundi, in cooperation with the South African NGO Itumeleng Innovation Centre for Youth Development. Dialogue and development partner is the NGO New Africa, based in Senegal.

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