USING CULTURE TO COMBAT HIV/AIDS

UNCLAS LILONGWE 000598

SIPDIS

FOR AF/PD, ECA/PE/V/G/A, ECA/PE/V/P

E.O. 12958: N/A
TAGS: KPAO OEXC SCUL KSEP MI IIP HIV AIDS
SUBJECT: USING CULTURE TO COMBAT HIV/AIDS


1. Summary: Using a $6,000 travel grant, Public Affairs
invited Dr. Jack Allison to return to Malawi June 3 to
participate in a three-week speaker program entitled "Using
Music to Combat HIV/AIDS." Dr. Allison served as a PCV from
1966-68 and became famous in Malawi for using music to
deliver health messages. His 1968 song "Ufa wa Mtedza"
(Peanut Flour) talked about the importance of putting
protein in childrens' diets, and remains one of the most
popular Chichewa language songs ever recorded. Dr. Allison
returned to Malawi in 1994 and, teaming up with local
artists, composed and recorded seven HIV-themed songs, which
still receive airplay. The purpose of this program was to
have Dr. Alison work with community-based music groups to
write songs that focus on current HIV/AIDS messages,
primarily behavioral change. The program helping achieve the
key mission goal of combating HIV and AIDS, the
festival reinforced the cordial relationship already
existing between the USG mission and its Malawi partners in
the area of HIV and AIDS. End Summary.


2. Activity dates: June 3 - June 22


3. Result/Impact: Jack Allison's long history with Malawi,
along with his ability to compose and perform songs on
important health themes in Chichewa, makes him a unique
goodwill ambassador here. The program was focused on three
large rural centers, rather than Malawi's major cities, but
media coverage was able to spread the message to a national
audience. While this may seem to be "retail" public
diplomacy, Dr. Allison's work with Peace Corps Volunteers,
local HIV community groups and bands will continue to pay
dividends long after the program is over.


4. Theme: Using Music to Combat HIV/AIDS


5. Activities: Dr Allison worked with local bands and
communities in two lakeshore districts of Nkhata Bay and
Mangochi which are the hardest hit by HIV/AIDS pandemic with
HIV prevalence rate of over twenty percent. The music and
drama groups addressed current HIV/AIDS themes, including
preventing transmission, property grabbing from widows, de-
stigmatization, keeping girls in school, as well as male
behavior change and men's responsibility in stopping the
pandemic.


6. In Nkhata Bay, Dr. Allison worked with the National Aids
Commission (NAC),which funded Health Education Band and
several local groups. The three-day program concluded with
a performance in Nkhata Bay attended by traditional chiefs,
members of the District Assembly, the District Aids
Commissioner and the Principal Secretary for Sports Youth
and Culture. A crowd of over 2,000 people attended the
concert, which featured Dr. Allison and all the local
musical and drama groups he worked with during the prior
three days.


7. In Mangochi, Dr. Allison spent four days working with
musical groups from Monkey Bay District and in the area
surrounding Malawi Children's Village, concluding with
another daylong performance. Public Affairs in
collaboration with Malawi Children's Village (MCV) and
Mangochi District Assembly organized a music festival, which
attracted over 1500 people. The theme of the festival was
"Using music to combat HIV/AIDS" at MCV in Mangochi. Dr.
Allison, who was guest speaker, teamed up with local artists
to disseminate HIV/AIDS messages through songs.


8. Dr. Allison also worked with Peace Corps Malawi. Together
with the Peace Corps Mission Director and Public Affairs
Officer, he attended a daylong program of HIV themed
performances organized by a Peace Corps Volunteer in Nkande
Village, Mchinji. Drama and musical groups from the
surrounding area performed HIV-themed songs and skits along
with Dr. Allison, who spoke to the audience in Chichewa on
HIV issues and sang some of his own songs to an audience of
nearly 500 villagers from the surrounding area. He also led
a workshop for thirty-seven current Peace Corps Volunteers
working in the areas of health, education, and environment
in rural villages of Malawi entitled "Using the Arts in
HIV/AIDS Education." The workshop helped current Volunteers
explore ways of using music, puppetry, dance, murals,
posters, drama, and other arts to reach over 20,000
Malawians in villages where they serve with the message of
HIV/AIDS education.


9. Throughout Allison's visit, radio MBC played his music,
especially the hit `Ufa wa Mtedza' in musical programs and
presenters kept saying Allison was back in the country. The
"Daily Times" and "Chronicle" newspapers published articles
covering Dr. Allison's tour.
GILMOUR