A LOCAL firm, JR & LK Investment has unveiled a new music award dubbed 'Mwalimu Nyerere Tanzania Contemporary Traditional Muzic Awards'.

JR & LK Investment Director, Mchatta Eric Mchatta told journalists in Dar es Salaam on Tuesday the award, the first of its kind, will celebrate traditional folk music. "The aim of the Mwalimu Nyerere Tanzania Contemporary Traditional Music Awards is to recognize and honour traditional musicians," Mchatta said.

The awards will be inaugurated on October 11, this year when the nation will be commemorating the death of the first President and father of the nation, Julius Kambarage Nyerere. Mchatta said his company obtained a permit to organize the awards from the National Arts Council (BASATA).

He said the award was named after the late father of the nation in recognition of his dedication towards the promotion and development of traditional arts and music.

"Mwalimu Nyerere once said 'a nation without a culture is a lost nation', it's in regard to that Nyerere's statement JR & LK Investment is dedicated to promoting traditional musicians," he added. Mchatta highlighted the need to revive the rapidly dying local traditional cultures and believes the award will go a long way towards achieving that.