Six pillars
The focus of the 6 pillars will both be a knowledge of the past and a concentration on the future:
- Health will encompass the knowledge of traditional medicine and knowledge of medicinal plants while at the same time seeking insight to obstacles to health and looking for ways of rectifying these.
- Environment will focus on obtaining knowledge of traditional means of using the environment and early warning signals, as well as putting emphasis on planting of indigenous tree species and securing water and land rights for the groups.
- Livelihood will collect information on the livelihoods of the cultural groups as well as promote markets of traditional handicrafts and undertake processing of farm and livestock products for higher added value.
- Education will promote cultural education while at the same time promote education of current policies and legislature
- Values will collect information and promote discussions on the values embedded in the culture of the different groups and how these values aid or hinder development and coexistence.
- Governance will focus on land right issues, knowledge of policies and basic rights and highlighting good governance, while at the same time supporting the government dissemination of policies and reforms within different cultural contexts.
And through all this, the most important aspect of the coexistence part of the programme is the creation of a meeting place for vibrant dialogue between the language groups, thereby creating an understanding and acceptance of the differences and a peaceful yet exciting coexistence.
It is an exciting year for the Four Corners Cultural Programme. This innovative approach too, is unique. The director of the National Museums, who was present at the two initial workshops, called the programme “unique in the Tanzanian context”. Bringing the celebration of culture back to the people concerned was, according to him, an extremely positive move. When this is coupled with the dialogue element, it becomes unique, was his message.
Several years have passed since the initial idea. The dream is now blossoming into a programme firmly rooted in the communities. The communities have established implementation teams and the elders are supporting the programme, dedicating their time and energy. The knowledge of each other has increased exponentially and the pride of belonging to an area where the four language groups of Africa meet is making the young people proud and enthusiastic in meeting the future.
And to celebrate even further, in 2007, the programme was visited by the Mwenge, the freedom torch of Tanzania, and this year, 2008, we had the honor of being visited by president Kikwete.
Haydom has always listened to a different drummer, and the drummer is now playing the beat of the four major language groups of Africa, in one harmonious symphony.