According to the EU delegation in Angola, the competition is aimed at emerging musical bands, composed of elements aged between 16 and 30 years old.
The objective of the initiative is "to stimulate the artistic creation of the new generations and to promote the sociocultural exchange".
The Marimba project intends to contribute to the rescue of cultural identity, to its dissemination and to the reinforcement, inclusion and sustainability of the sector's agents.
Entries for this first Marimba project band contest have already been opened and interested parties may submit their application until April 6th of this year.
In all, six bands will be selected: two in Angola, two in Mozambique, one in Guinea-Bissau and one in Timor-Leste.
The Marimba project has the support of a group of internationally recognized artists who represent the musical expressions of the various participating partner countries.
Paulo Flores (Angola), Nástio Mosquito (Angola), Manecas Costa (Guinea-Bissau), Stewart Sukuma (Mozambique) and Etson Caminha (Timor-Leste) are the "ambassadors" of the project and their function is to "encourage and motivate the participation of young artists, as unifying and motivating elements, also assuming themselves as faces of the Marimba project among the media and the general public".
The selected bands will participate in the Festival Marimba Gathering, which will take place in Maputo, in 2024.
