MutiARTS (medicine arts) by Tamba Africa brings together artists, cultural and wellness practitioners to share and co-create through restorative performance arts as a tool to address the psychological and psycho-social effects of the COVID-19 pandemic. This project is inspired by African healing ceremonies which include ritual, dance & music, and African wisdom passed on through proverbs, music, poetry, art and symbols. These are combined with the techniques of Cirque de-Stress (Circus for Mental Health) and Social Circus pedagogy. Together, these methodologies produce healing tools through sound, movement and storytelling.

MutiARTS, by way of research, collaboration and exchange, envisions creative alternatives to recovering from the psychological and psycho-social issues linked to the COVID-19 pandemic such as anxiety related disorders, community disconnection, depression and post-traumatic stress disorder to bring about healing, connection and restoration of wellbeing.

The project includes three areas of focus:

The MutiARTS Colloquium is an interactive multidisciplinary platform for artists, cultural practitioners and wellness coaches to expand the definition and application of African healing arts.

Music and Dance for Healing sessions provides tools, basic principles and processes of self-healing and community health-giving practices to local marginalised youth and their communities.

The MutiARTS Mbira Circus in tandem with creative partners and circus artists representing Zimbabwe and Malawi facilitates cross-cultural creative engagement and Intangible Southern African Cultural Heritage showcase.

BIOGRAPHIES

Tamba Africa Trust is a civil society organisation (CSO) based in Harare, Zimbabwe which is interested in education, research, advocacy, amplification of social issues affecting marginalised communities and the promotion of African arts.

Neil Productions is an arts management and production coordination company based in Malawi. Neil Productions is passionate about traditional and homegrown talent and the many ways to share music, culture and art with the world including through the band, Neil and the New Vibration which reflects the musical landscape of Malawi.

Keturah is a Malawian Afro-soul artist and songwriter who grew up in Mwanza and is currently staying in Chilomoni, Blantyre. Born in a family of guitarists, Keturah is carrying on the musical legacy by bringing the ancient sounds of Malawi to modern audiences.