American Scholar Promotes U.S. Folk Music in Dar es Salaam

On November 10, 2010, prominent U.S. cultural historian Dr. Allan M. Winkler from Miami University in Oxford, Ohio, taught a teaching clinic and performed U.S. folk songs for 150 youth at the Parapanda/Baba wa Watoto Center for Children and Youth in Dar Es Salaam. The program was arranged by PAS Dar es Salaam.

The Center's Executive Director, Mr. Mgunga Mwa Mnyenyelwa, his staff, and young local artists gave a warm welcome to Dr. Winkler, Public Affairs Officer Ilya Levin, Deputy Public Affairs Officer Roberto Quiroz II, and Regional English Language Officer Rebecca Smoak. In his introductory remarks PAO Levin spoke of the role of folk music in U.S. culture and lauded Dr. Winkler for visiting Tanzania to reach out to Tanzanian youth to explain U.S. society and its values.

Dr. Winkler played legendary folk songs "Blowin' in the Wind," "Turn, Turn, Turn," "This Land is Your Land," and others, and discussed the meaning of their lyrics in their historical context. At program's conclusion, Dr. Winkler's young listeners joined hands and, together with Dr. Winkler, sang "We Shall Overcome."

 

Parapanda/Baba wa Watoto Center band performs for Dr. Winkler and U.S. Embassy officials on November 10, 2010. 

Tanzanian youth and a young woman volunteer from Germany at the Parapanda/Baba wa Watoto Center for Youth listen to U.S. folk music program on November 10, 2010.

Dr. Allan Winkler and youth from the Parapanda/Baba wa Watoto Center.

Deputy Public Affairs Officer Roberto Quiroz II, Mr. Mgunga, and Tanzanian youth join hands to Dr. Winkler's rendition of "We Shall Overcome."

Dr. Allan Winkler and youth from the Parapanda/Baba wa Watoto Center.