WITH the exception of last year, Professor Barbara Lundquist from the University of Washington in the United States of America, has attended every episode of the International Ethnomusicology Symposium at the University of Dar es Salaam.

So it was not a surprise to find her present at this year's three-day chapter, which ended on Saturday. The fact that she finds the atmosphere at the Fine and Performing Arts Department (FPAD), where this event is being held, a favourable space where people can be free, comfortable and open, is enough attraction for her.

For according to the ethnomusicologist, who has an ongoing project in Chamwino Ward of Dodoma Urban District within Dodoma Region, such an environment at the FPAD is ideal to exchange ideas about their interests, goals and the things they want to know about, with other like minds.

For Prof. Lundquist those who attend the event are built with "a need to want to know", so being able to get together and share the things they are researching in an environment where there are people, who can also help them groom those very ideas, makes it all worthwhile.

To increase her excitement the space created there "is none competitive, encouraging, supportive and interesting" because everybody in it are from different places, with each of them having their own interest and reason for being there.

"This makes the sharing even more fun," she maintains. During a conversation with the 'Daily News' on Saturday she also talked about finding it amazing and exciting to have a gathering where people like her can learn about someone else's interests and the passion that drives them.

Added to this, the vibrations from such a place she finds to be warm and friendly, without having any loss of "seriousness or class" because participants do their research and think things through, as expected, therefore, can present their interests to the best of their ability in the allotted time. This professionalism, for her adds an extra touch of finesse to the event that makes it worth her being there.

Over the seven years that Prof Lundquist has been attending this event she has noticed a growing number of people being involved with the presentation of papers. She has also observed that each episode has had a different population, so that there is a "waxing and waning" of certain interests and a new set of people.

This year she found it particularly interesting that there were "very intelligent, focused and smart researchers", who also proved, from their playing that they were very good musicians. "You know being a good researcher in the area of music and The Arts in general is one thing but to be able to be an artist and also do research, Oh! Because then you have a feeling of getting to the heart of the person, who is doing The Art.

And to get to that there is a kind of a sensor of learning more about what makes a person choose to live that kind of life," she further explained. For Prof. Lundquist, there was also a higher level of technological sophistication this year compared to previous ones.

There is also an added bonus she gets from the notes she takes, at these symposiums. The information gathered can be shared with others she meets outside it. Bearing these things in mind it stands to reason that she must have very strong views towards ethnomusicology, which is the study of ethnic music.

"Any nation has to have people, who are guarding the culture. People, who are making sure that the local culture, which is its expressive power, is being fostered, encouraged and supported because without this it will turn into a world where it's just business and consuming," she said.

"There has to be recognition that there is a layer of the society that is dedicated to the exploration of questions, to the support of culture and look into things other people don't have time to check on." She added that these ethnomusicologists are the people, who hold the governance of the country responsible for being aware of and nourishing its life-blood.

On this subject the Acting Director of the National Arts Council (BASATA), Godfrey Mngereza, who attended the event, had something to say. Being a former student of the department, he told the 'Daily News' he would never miss such an event as this seventh edition of the symposium. This event he said is very important to local musicians and other stakeholders of the music industry, first and foremost because it is a forum.

"It is a platform for Tanzanians to meet other professionals in the music industry. Here they can exchange ideas and learn from other like minds. It helps them see what can be done here in the area of ethnomusicology," Mngereza said after Friday evening's musical performance.

"We still need to do more research in regard to music in our culture, for example; in reference to gender issues. That's why I see this as being very important to local musicians and other stakeholders."

Before writing another word, it should be remembered that the countries represented at the threeday event included Kenya, Malawi, South Africa, Côte d'Ivoire, Germany, the USA, Norway, India, Japan, the UK, Spain and of course Tanzania.

One of the main co-ordinators, Prof Mitchel Strumpf, had told the 'Daily News' the reason why they were not able to continue beyond three days was simply due to the funds available.

However, he was thankful to the local Goethe Institute chapter and the HYPERLINK "http:// www.tcra.go.tz/" Tanzania Communications Regulatory Authority (TCRA), for their valuable financial support, together with the participants, the Swiss Agency for Development and Cooperation and the Bakhresa Group (Azam), for helping them present another year of the symposium.

As it has been from its beginning, after the organisers have taken a short required rest, they have to start preparing for next year's chapter. As usual the number of days will depend on the funds they are able to collect.