Download the original attachment *_RE: The Drum Café 2010 Peace Arts festival/Conference._* *The Talking drums of Africa* in collaboration with Kenyan artistic/cultural organizations, non governmental organizations, the private sector, international artists/cultural organizations and professionals have proposed to organize the *Drum Café 2010 Peace Festival/Conference * from Sunday 19^th September 2010 to Saturday 25^th September 2010*,* in effort to* * communicate dialogue among civilizations and cultures, respect and mutual understanding using available methods and facilities, send a clear message towards the critical situation throughout the world, characterized by hate and poverty across vast regions and confrontations between cultures. *Kenya* as a state has been crossed by paths of long and complex history. From prehistoric records to the present day, she has been a land of unending change and diversity. Early tribal states saw cycles of migration and shifting power with Kenya as a meeting place for people from plain lands of the south, the forest of the west and deserts of the north. The sea brought influence from the outside world and the passage of the spice trade which created the unique coastal culture. *She –Kenya* served as a meeting place of cultures, where adventurers and soldiers of fortune mingled with a complex tribal society. Kenya indeed has managed to draw all influence and developed in to a unique culture. For sure these is just one of her greatest strengths; the ability to blend all her worlds into a one strong singular identity. *At the end of December 2007*, the Kenyan presidential election was marked by bloody confrontation during which 1,500 persons were killed and over 350,000 were displaced, some media did not hesitate to speak of ethnic hatred, while others concentrated on the political and economic causes of the crisis. The conflict in Kenya is only one recent example of the type of unrest which has marked communities and nations around the world since the beginning of time *World War I* claimed over 40 million casualties, including approximately 20 million civilian and military dead. And some 60 million people died in World War II, including about 20 million soldiers and 40 million civilians. The twenty first century has witnessed civil wars in Africa which have claimed millions of lives of citizens. *Arts and Culture* is crucial in social and political development. Invariably, they help a society to retain its desirable values, arrest impending ailments on time, and exercise evils plaguing the well being of people. As a media of social progress, Arts and culture are dynamic avenues for the expansion of the frontiers of peace creations. *The Drum café 2010 Peace festival and conference* aims to generate consciousness of the dangerous global situation in which we are living; a situation marked by the heightened probability of nuclear conflict, a renewed arms race, and the violent military occupation of foreign territories, religious, race and tribal conflicts. *The drum Café 2010 Peace festival/conference* recognize the need to bring together at a practical level diverse experiences in arts, academics, religious, cultural, social and humanitarian services to identify the conditions necessary to achieve sustainable development on peace. It could be remembered that cultural practitioners and producers are invaluable at times of political stress. When crises emerge or when repressive governments take control artists operate with a relatively safe space and can offer strong civil voice. *The Drum Cafe2010 Peace Festival/Conference* is an unprecedented social mobilization, advanced by cultural interventions aimed at bringing together thousands of people, pacifist and nonviolence groups, a variety of institutions, and figures from the worlds of science, arts, culture, and politics, who are sensitive to the urgency of the moment It will also awaken a consciousness of nonviolence that rejects not only physical violence, but all forms of violence: economic, racial, psychological, religious, sexual, etc. This new sensibility could take root and inspire the social structures, opening the way towards the future Universal Human Nation. *Our mission* is to work towards a cultural intervention in building bridges of love, respect, and understanding around nations by educating and mobilizing our communities in creating a future of peace and justice for all humanity using available media and arts/ cultural methods. To acknowledge cultural diversity as a driving force of development, not only on respect of growth, but also as a means of leading a more fulfilling intellectual, emotional, moral and spiritual life. */“If we fail to use creativity as a force for social justice, transformation and the articulation of human need, we may unwittingly find that we are letting down the very people in whose name we work”. /* *FORMATION* The Talking drums of Africa are one of the leading choreographers and producers of a broad range of specialty African authentic music and dance. The Talking drums engage in Production, Skill development, Cultural empowerment & Education. It was formed in *1995* and is among the early pioneers of drum music industry in Kenya. In 2006 the*/ Talking Drums of Africa /*initiated a drum project dubbed*/ “THE DRUM CAFE”,/ *an innovative network of creative and performing professionals with the Central aim of re-defining drum music as a powerful medium of social change in east Africa. The first drum cafe was first hosted by Alliance francaise de Nairobi in September 2006 and supported by various individuals, cultural and artistic institutions. Since then the Program has continued to work with younger and older drummers, musicians, artists and organizations such as UNESCO, Sarakasi trust, Amref, Unity College and the Go down Arts center, the drum café holds workshops and organize performances where skills and knowledge are shared with the audiences besides serving as a source of soulful entertainment. OBJECTIVES * *To highlight knowledge and practices in the field that advance artistic effectiveness to expand a collective impact.* * *To promote the use of music as a medium for social change through a focus on effective measures, * * *To increase cultural awareness and promote exchange between culture and development.* * *To spear head and support the use of arts and culture in conflict resolution, education, Peace and friendship. * * *To help societies retain their desirable values, arrest impending ailments on time and exercise dynamic avenues for the expansion of the frontiers of peace creation.* * *To acknowledge cultural diversity as a driving force of development, not only on respect of growth, but also as a means of leading a more fulfilling intellectual, emotional, moral and spiritual life.* *The DRUM CAFÉ 2010 PEACE FESTIVAL* will be a seven day celebration of cultural diversity presented by and for the various Kenyan ethnic subgroups and communities living in Kenya and their international guests. *The DRUM CAFÉ 2010 PEACE FESTIVAL* aims to create a safe place for all Kenyans and their international guests to value the importance of culture as a tool in conflict resolution and culture’s vital role in maintaining peace in local communities, nations and throughout the world. */”In its rich diversity, culture has intrinsic value for development as well as social cohesion and peace.” /* *The DRUM CAFÉ 2010 PEACE FESTIVAL* will feature: A seven day showcase of performances, presentations, workshops, displays and demonstrations of music, theater, dance, storytelling, food, films, traditional medicines and crafts at various venues in Dandora, Kibera, Kawangware (slum areas which all experienced terrible consequence of the last post election chaos where by neighbors turned against each other, killed and or destroying each others property) and in the Nairobi city center * A peace march through the Nairobi city main roads * An every day parade featuring a hundred drummers * A two day conference on *Peace in Our World* - providing a platform for civic and religious leaders as well as cultural, educational and community spokespeople * A wide range of performances on different stage with tailored productions on peace. * A screening of various peace based film messages on large screens in all festival venues. * A display of art facts and other materials on peace making and a variety of exhibition stalls around festival venues. *The DRUM CAFÉ 2010 PEACE FESTIVAL* will invite and engage the participation of young people, women, families, elders and men from Nairobi, Kenya, East Africa and around the World to come together and celebrate their shared history, their diverse identities and their common futures. *The DRUM CAFÉ 2010 PEACE FESTIVAL * will bring together Artists and Cultural entrepreneurs from a broad range of disciplines as well as government departments, Cultural institutions, Social and Humanitarian groups, Educational Institutions, Non-Governmental organizations, Private sector and community based organizations to strengthen the campaign towards achieving peace in Kenya and the world at large. *FESTIVAL PROGRAM* *_DAY ONE SUNDAY 19_*^*_TH_* *_ 09 2010_* 08:00 Drum Parade 09:30 Peace March flag off 13:00 End of procession 19:00 OPENNING GALA NIGHT 00:00 CLOSING *_DAY TWO MONDAY 20_*^*_TH_* *_ 09 2010_* 08:00 Registration of conference participants 09:00 Official opening of the conference and Festival 10:00 Entertainment 10:45 Break (coffee/tea) 11:00 session one (*Role of world citizens in conflict resolutions).* 13:00 Lunch break 14:00 session two (*Age, Gender and Professionalism perspectives in peace development.*) 16:00 Artistic session I *(Cultural and Artistic interventions, practices and experiences in peace creation)* 17:00 Closing 19:00 Poetry and traditional music night 22:00 Ending * _DAY THREE TUESDAY 21_*^*_ST_* *_ 09 2010_* 09:00 session three (*Communicating dialogue among civilizations and cultures, respect and mutual understanding using available methods and facilities).* 10:45 Break (coffee/tea) 11:00 session four *(Communicating dialogue among civilizations and cultures, respect and mutual understanding using available methods and facilities.).* 13:00 Lunch break 14:00 Session five *(Investing in art and culture as a social tool for community development, empowerment and peaceful co-existence and integration)* 16:00 Artistic session ii *(Acceptance and recognition of cultural diversity through innovative uses of media and arts as key elements in developing sustainable peace). * 7:00 Closing 19:00 Oral literature night – story telling, Narratives and short skits 22:00 Ending *_DAY FOUR WEDNESDAY 22_*^*_ND_* *_ 09 2010 DANDORA _* 08:00 Arrival of all local groups 10:00 sound check 11:00 program starts (30mins each group) 14:00 Bands and international groups (1hr each) 18: closing *_DAY FIVE THURSDAY 23_*^*_RD_* *_ 09 2010 KIBERA_* 08:00 Arrival of all local groups 10:00 sound check 11:00 program starts (30mins each group) 14:00 Bands and international groups (1hr each) 18: closing *_DAY SIX FRIDAY 24_*^*_TH_* *_ 09 2010 KAWANGWARE_* 08:00 Arrival of all local groups 10:00 sound check 11:00 program starts (30mins each group) 14:00 Bands and international groups (1hr each) 18: 00 closing *_DAY SEVEN SATURDAY 25_*^*_TH_* *_ 09 2010 CITY CENTRE_* 08:00 Arrival of all groups 09:00 Drum Parade 09:30 Invited Guests and Institutions/organizations 10:00 Program starts Activities happening on two stages 00:00 Closing CONTACT PERSON MR. EDWARD KABUYE P.O.BOX 43031 00100 NAIROBI, KENYA. TEL: +254720204271 E-MAIL: _drumcafe2010@gmail.com_ / and _talkingdrums2002@yahoo.com/_ WEBSITE: _www.drumcafenairobi.bravehost.com/_