SUMBAWANGA, Tanzania – Culture stakeholders in the Rukwa Region are urging traditional cultural groups to register their native songs with the National Arts Council (BASATA) to protect their copyrights. This initiative aims to ensure fair compensation for the use of traditional music, particularly in commercial ventures.

Adam Evarist, the Rukwa Region Sports and Culture Officer, emphasized the importance of registration during a recent workshop with lawmakers in Sumbawanga. The workshop focused on developing guidelines for enacting by-laws to advocate for the recognition and protection of intangible cultural heritage. Evarist highlighted the potential for traditional groups to generate income through their music if their copyrights are secured. "Traditional groups create beautiful songs, yet they often go unregistered," Evarist explained. "Once registered, they can negotiate and benefit from their creativity." He stressed the need for by-laws that incorporate mechanisms for recognizing and compensating traditional artists.

Chief Kapele, a prominent leader of the Wafipa tribe, echoed this sentiment, advocating for the establishment of private museums to document and preserve their stories. He expressed concern about instances where individuals from other countries have used African stories in films, generating significant profits while the original creators receive no recognition or compensation. "People come from other continents and use African stories to make films where they earn millions, with the natives failing to benefit from their creativity," Chief Kapele stated. He called for by-laws that protect native intellectual property through registration and documentation.

The Tanzania Media for Community Development (TAMCODE), with support from the UNESCO-Alwaleed Philanthropies Project, is working with lawmakers in Sumbawanga and Mpanda districts to promote intangible cultural heritage. This collaborative effort aims to develop guidelines for by-laws that will advocate for the adoption of intangible cultural issues. The project, titled "Crafting Change: Fostering Community-Based Development through Culture-Related Technical and Vocational Education and Training (TVET) and Employment," seeks to create economic opportunities, especially for youth and women, while preserving Tanzania's rich cultural heritage.

This initiative is part of a larger three-year partnership between UNESCO and Alwaleed Philanthropies, aligning with the global Framework for Culture and Arts Education. This framework recognizes the crucial role of arts and culture in sustainable development, ethical innovation, creativity, critical thinking, lifelong learning, and professional growth. Alwaleed Philanthropies, under the leadership of H.R.H. Princess Lamia bint Majed Al Saud, supports a wide range of projects and campaigns focused on poverty alleviation, women and youth empowerment, livelihood support, disaster relief, and intercultural understanding. The project in Rukwa and Katavi regions demonstrates a commitment to protecting cultural heritage while empowering local communities.