A Fordingbridge-based charity has released its new documentary film to raise funds for an African museum.
Trade Aid, launched its documentary film in the town’s Regal Cinema. The film has been created to help raise funds for the Mikindani Museum that Trade Aid operates in the town of Mikindani in Tanzania, East Africa.
Trade Aid has been supporting the community of Mikindani since 1997 by creating employment, providing training, English tuition, clean water supplies and undertaking conservation activities.
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The museum tells the story of Mikindani and its place in history including the East African slave trade and Dr David Livingstone, but mostly focuses on the Makonde people that live in and around Mikindani and celebrates their place in the wider world.
Thousands of visitors, mostly students, have visited the free-to-enter museum since its opening in 2018. For most visitors, it is their first experience of visiting a museum.
The Makonde have a rich heritage which is adapting to a changing world, with the documentary film celebrating the past, present and future of the Makonde.
It acts as an audio-visual record of passing traditions for future generations as well as acting as an educational tool which will feature within the museum.
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Trade Aid Trustee, Tim Dench, said: “It was great to launch the documentary film with so many long-term supporters but also to people who knew nothing about the Makonde or the work of the Mikindani Museum and Trade Aid generally.
"As well as the events in Fordingbridge our team in Mikindani were able to arrange a showing for those who are the subject of the film.”
All costs for creating the film have been covered by donations. The time to film, produce and direct the film has all been done voluntarily. Approach Films is a North Wales-based company creating factual content and documentary films for organisations championing cultural, environmental and charitable causes.
Its Director is Freya Williams. She has produced and directed many documentaries for broadcast, including for National Geographic, the BBC and Discovery Science. More information on Freya can be found at approachfilms.com
The film is free to view at tradeaiduk.org/mikindani-museum.
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