About the Ndaro Art Culture
The Ndaro Art Culture was created by Thomas Lusango, a graduate of the National Institute of Arts (INA) in Kinshasa in the DRC after the completion of his diploma in Ethnomusicology.
To perfect his ambitions, he initiated the creation of a cultural space in Bukavu (NDARO Culture) in 2013. A Clamue and Kidogos project on which the population and artists of Bukavu and South Kivu can now count to ensure accessibility to culture for all and the production of local works and artists. Their belief that “there is strength in unity and that the promotion of the elevation of culture does not depend only on the government” led them to working hard on changing the cultural scene in Bukavu and responding to the needs of the local artists and the community.
The Ndaro culture is a space that supports the promotion of artists and their personal development through courses and cultural events. However, while they are overflowing with ideas and initiatives, the premises in question were not in very good condition.
The Delia-Ndaro Art Culture Center
The city of Bukavu sits on the southern tip of Lake Kivu on the eastern border of Democratic Republic of Congo. It is a growing city with 2-3 million people, and is near to several other large cities in the region including Goma to the north and Uvira to the south. As a result of the military history in the region, and its distance from the main government in Kinshasa, it continues to experience military conflict led by guerilla groups operating in the area to this day. Due to its geographic location far from the capital of Kinchasa in the west, there is little governance and even less funding, especially in the cultural sector, as only 0.02% of the country’s national budget is available, which primarily remains in the capital.
While the basic humanitarian challenges remain, in keeping with the mission of the Delia Arts Foundation and in cooperation with The Music Fund, AfriSCENE, Kidogos, and NDARO Culture, the Delia Arts Foundation assisted Ndaro Art Culture to move into their new Center: the “Delia-Ndaro Art Culture”.
The Delia-Ndaro Art Culture Center in Bukavu will be part of the growing network of Centers in the Middle East and Africa. Over the coming years, future locations will be identified, with the goal to expand the project into a network of cultural spaces that will be accessible at a low cost to musicians living in conflict zones and marginalized communities.
Programs
The Delia-Ndaro Art Culture Center is a place where musicians and the community can attend to rehearse, take part of diverse training and programs and use the recording studio that is fully equipped.
The Center also includes a large space where performances and events can be hosted beside a beautiful lake by the “avenue du lac numéro 55 non loin du lycée international à labotte, commune d’Ibanda, quartier Labotte, ville Bukavu, province du Sud Kivu”.
The Delia-Ndaro Art Culture Center is comprised of 7 departments:
1. Music
Along with Ndaro Art Culture’s Jazz, Symphony and gospel programs, the Delia Arts Foundation and the Music Fund join forces to develop this department to include workshops on sound engineering, instrument repairs, art therapy, training programs revolving around solfeggio, music theory, music production, music business and other programs that focus on exchange, exposure and promotion such as online concerts and Delia Sessions. The center will also be a starting point to launch outreach projects such as the Creative Corners, the Mobile Studio and others that will provide equal access to opportunities in the music field to other marginalized communities in that region.
2. Theater and Humor
Ndaro Art Culture have always encouraged the promotion of theatre and humor activities and performances that give artists a space to express themselves and convey powerful messages to the community through laughter.
3. Poetry and Slam
The center will be a refuge and a supporting space for artists and poets who need to raise their voices and express themselves freely. It is one of the very few initiatives in Bukavu that support Poetry.
4. Dance
The Delia-Ndaro Art Culture Center supports modern, contemporary and traditional styles by providing the necessary training and performance opportunities for musicians.
5. Photography and Cinema
The center encourages photographers by providing training and promotes local films through regular screening events to the community.
6. Modeling
Ndaro Art Culture has always encouraged the showcase of the beauty of its locals through training and events. The program challenges the stereotypes around conflict, war and crimes that have happened and are still happening in the Kivu region.
7. Events and Exposure:
The center is also the host for several popular events: Izulu Live Festival, les 7 jours récréatifs, Karhera slam and the Urbain dance festival.
Funding and Budget:
While the Delia Arts Foundation is putting the seed money to cover the Start-up Budget, Funding is being pursued to cover the Forecasted Running Costs through 5 different channels:
- Core support and funding from the Delia Arts Foundation.
- Local partnerships for each Center (philanthropic, academic, government, commercial, private).
- International sponsors and funders, including gear endorsements from music industry brands.
- Membership fees, non-member fees for use of the rehearsal and recording spaces, as well as training program participation fees.
- Community contribution through ticketed performances and special events.
The Center’s growth will remain organic, avoiding large liabilities and loans, providing flexibility and low financial barriers to entry into these volatile markets. To that end real estate is being rented, and refurbishment and equipping is being done gradually and in sync with activity and funding growth.
Start-up budget: 19,957 USD
Forecasted running budget Year 1: 24,302 USD
Impact
When speaking directly with the musicians in these regions, the need for affordable and equipped rehearsal and recording space was their biggest need.
With the connections of the Delia Arts Foundation, we will also use this space as the focus of our activities in the region, providing an international platform and exposure to the musicians who are currently cut off from the rest of the world.
The Delia-Ndaro Art Culture Center will:
- Create international platforms for local musicians to expand their careers that will allow them to Relate Bukavu’s history to an international audience through art.
- Create a safe and nurturing space for young people who are challenged with handicaps and give them the opportunities to express themselves.
- Contribute in lowering delinquency among young people through regular programs that allow them to express themselves and Raise young people’s voices and empowering women in the face of conflict.
- Save musical culture and traditions that are slowly disappearing in the region.
Our long-term goal for the Delia-Ndaro Art Culture Center is to create a sustainable local and regional music economy that musicians can thrive in. In areas that are plagued with problems such as poverty and conflict, music can bring the gift of social support to a community, bringing like-minded young people together and keeping them away from violence, marginalization, extremism, and other serious issues they face.
