Hear Us Children set for Spain cultural exchange

The trip, scheduled for April 12 to 27, will see nine children travel to Barcelona under a long-standing partnership between Music Crossroads Malawi and Aula de So Foundation in Spain. Music Crossroads Malawi director Matthews Mfune said the initiative continues to provide life-changing experiences for participating children. He said: The exposure allows participants to learn from their peers while also sharing their own cultural identity.

“The children specialise in traditional dances and music, but they also incorporate contemporary elements into their performances,” said Mfune. He added that the group will also engage with communities through workshops and interactions with institutions such as television stations and the Sant Cugat town council. Beyond performances, the children will stay with host families, an arrangement Mfune said continues to strengthen cultural understanding.

“This allows them to experience everyday life in Spain while also sharing Malawian culture through food, music and storytelling,” said Mfune. The programme now has also led to long-term benefits which have seen Spain support education and community projects back home. The projects include the construction of a hall and computer laboratory and other projects supporting girls’ hygiene through the construction of toilets at Mlodza and Kaliyeka schools in Lilongwe as well as Chilinde this year.

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Mfune said the team has also worked on Abantu production, a 20-minute production they are expected to showcase while they are in Spain. The production incorporates traditional dances such as Vimbuza, a healing dance and Ingoma. “Today, Spain knows so much about Malawi through Hear Us Children and some of the traditional dances per­formed.

Some partners have gone as far as supporting the children’s education by paying school fees,” he said. Music Crossroads programmes manager Angela Zulanga, who will accompany the group said the trip is crucial in preserving cultural identity especially among young people. “This initiative is not just about travel, but about ensuring that our cultural roots are not lost,” she said.

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