Sangoma Drama Troupe

By Sarah Sevcik

Tanzania
August 7, 2008

Our most recent work for MIHV involves the making of a 30-minute video about Diarrheal disease entitled “Tatua Tatizo,��? or “Solve the Problem��?. What a blast! We hired local talent, the Sangoma Drama Troupe, to come up with a funny but educational way to explain how one contracts diarrheal disease, how to prevent it, and what to do if you get it. Sangoma came up with a wonderful story about two families, one of who does everything right (uses clean water when cooking and eating, washing after using the latrine, etc.) and another who does everything wrong (eating after cleaning the area where the cows rest, etc.) The “right��? family tries to help the “wrong��? family, but the “wrong��? family will not listen. Therefore, people get sick and need to visit the clinic. At the clinic, a doctor explains what they can do to help themselves in the future, including using clean water sources, when they need to wash their hands, and the importance of continuing to breastfeed a child even when the mother is ill.

Lizz and I were the Technical Advisors. In other words, we did the filming, editing, and video production. Despite my lack of experience in filming, the video turned out so well! We can’t wait to get it made into DVDs and share it with the community. Our hope is that the Dar Express will take it and show it on their buses. We’ll see. In any case, if anyone wants to check it out, I’ll bring a copy home.

The video wasn’t the end of our work with the Sangoma group. Yesterday we went to another rural village area for the once/month market day. After touring the rows of goods and eating a great meat meal on a stick (kind-of like the State Fair, eh?) we spent time watching the Sangoma group perform dramas and traditional dances. Much like the video we produced, the Sangoma group used drama to express a variety of messages. One song/dance included the chanting of “Malaria kills��?, followed by a drama explaining the need to use bed nets and receive treatment from clinic and hospitals. Another humorous drama showed a family in which the husband told the pregnant wife that she should get pregnant right away after delivery, and then again and again. The next family who came onto the scene then explained the concept and benefits of child spacing. The dramas were a HUGE hit! Well over 600 people were gathered around to watch!

Mr. Kombo preparing our lunch.

The Sangoma Drama Troupe doing their thing!

The crowd of market-goers watching Sangoma Drama Troupe

Our Excel trainings have become very popular around Karatu. After our initial Excel training with MIHV staff, we were asked to provide training for the staff of the NGO Canadian Physicians for Aid and Relief (CPAR) and the staff of a local clinic run by a muzugu cardiac anesthesiologist. We were even asked to give a personal tutorial for the District Medical Officer himself!
For the past few days, we have been without water at home. Why? The elephants. Apparently elephants tore up the ground up on the hill where the water pipes are located. Hence, broken pipes and no water. Even though going without showers and home cooking can be a bit frustrating, how often can you say the elephants got in the way?

For the next week, Lizz and I will be hiking the Machame Route on Mount Kilimanjaro. We know it will be difficult, but we hope to make it to the top and enjoy the adventurous journey. We start in a forest and end on a glacier—how poa (cool) is that?!