Opening of Pandondo Course and Training Centre, Malawi

Ladies and gentlemen,

Let me first of all express my gratitude for this opportunity to experience a fascinating part of Malawian culture. I know that your country possesses a rich cultural heritage. I have seen some and I look forward to learning more.

Culture has never been static, it changes and develops in the encounter with new challenges of life. This process is beneficial, but sometimes also painful. Through culture we can keep in touch with our past while grasping the future – in times of rapid change culture plays an important part.

I understand that this unique centre illustrates this truth. We can see how people from different parts of Africa were brought together and how customs, traditions and beliefs have been further influenced in different ways. It is important to preserve precious memories of the past for future generations. The marketplace offered by the centre gives work and income to hundreds of families. The traditional crafts have given inspiration to beautiful art, which today has even become an important export article.

I have learnt that dance is the essence of life and traditions of Malawians. Dance is being used to spread messages against the illness which is hurting this part of the world so terribly. The whole society suffers from the HIV/AIDS scourge – and we also know that women and girls suffer in particular. All means of communication must be used to teach - and to remove stigmas which may stand in the way of an efficient fight against HIV/AIDS. I will encourage you to mobilize traditions, art, your song and your dance, to save the lives of parents and children for the sake of future generations.

The museum with its amazing collection of traditional masks and historic evidence offers scholars opportunities for further research on Malawian culture. I am pleased that my own country has assisted in adding a new dimension to the Centre. The Pandondo Course and Training Centre - the hostel and the research centre with a library - has given this place new opportunities.

The Centre will now be able to develop its cultural outreach programme, to offer more students training and to facilitate research.

I wish you the best of luck in the future. It is now my great pleasure to declare the Pandondo Course and Training Centre officially open.