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C H A R L E S M U G E RWA : THE
PIED
gandan Charles Mugerwa arrived eight years ago in South Africa as a postgraduate student of Music Education at the University Of Pretoria (UP).
PIPER
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PAMATA was established as a Close Corporation in 2009 with startup capital from two Ugandan medical doctors, Dr. Wasswa and Dr. Lubega. Mugerwa would teach the children all forms of arts, dance, drama, music, poetry and folklore at a friend’s venue in Kameeldrift, Pretoria. Transport continued to be a challenge until John Kyobe, the founder of HTC Colleges in Pretoria, offered the group a more accessible venue in Pretoria CBD without cost.
PRETORIA He is a post-graduate music student at UP currently on an exchange programme in Finland for which he was selected in recognition of his special talents. ”In the span of one year, he has lifted performance standards and proved himself as an exceptional trainer and mentor to the PAMATA children,” Mugerwa says.
The UP Music Department was investing in finding appropriate methodologies for implementing South Africa’s new Revised National Curriculum. Mugerwa and one of his lecturers Professor Kwami Mugerwa handles PAMATA in his embarked on research studies to spare time. He holds teaching “We are now in the process of gather in-depth knowledge of how to positions at both UP and Pridwin changing PAMATA into a non-profit integrate African indigenous music Preparatory School in Johannesburg. in classrooms. He does not “The PAMATA children have gone for auditions to perform on They targeted view PAMATA schools in Ga- TV and were involved in the production of a new movie starring as something Rankuwa and from which to Gerard Butler entitled Machine Gun Preacher” S o s h a n g u ve make money organization and later a School of townships where they had an seeing as what it gives him is much Performing Arts,” Mugerwa reveals, overwhelming response from many more fulfilling than Rands and Cents. “It is important that we continue children. teaching these children music as it “So many of these children had lost keeps them grounded. They learn The musical projects were progressing focus and some had started taking special skills that enable them to well until funding became a problem. drugs and considering dropping out get jobs to sustain themselves and In addition, Kwami passed away of school. My satisfaction comes their families. Some have even gone leaving Mugerwa alone in pursuit of from seeing them grow to their for auditions to perform on TV and their vision. He had started teaching potential and find their purpose in PAMATA has just taken part in the at the university and township life,” he concludes. Sheila Lynn Senkubuge production of a new movie starring parents would approach him for Gerard Butler entitled Machine Gun music lessons for their children. These Preacher.” children would come through for classes weekly but as they were not In collaboration with UP, PAMATA university students, UP was not able was invited to perform in a joint to provide them with the full support program with the Edu-Cantare choir needed. These challenges prompted at a recent international conference Mugerwa to source funding as in Botswana. Furthermore, the group many learners were struggling with has been invited to similar events money for transport to and from overseas; California in 2012 and the university. The process of finding Alabama in 2013. private funding resulted in the birth of PAMATA - Pan African Music and Another Ugandan, Julius Kyakuwa, Theatre Arts. assists Mugerwa as artistic director.