Maria Sarungi Tsehai, Director of Productions, Compass Communications Ltd , Tanzania
Maria Sarungi Tsehai is director and owner of Compass Communications. She is also a communication consultant, having provided communication advice, PR management and training to various organizations including UN agencies, civil society organizations and individuals.
Maria Sarungi Tsehai is also Chair of the board of AkibaUhaki Foundation based in Nairobi, Kenya, member of the Technical Advisory Committee of REPOA, chair of Tanzania Independent Producers’ Association, Regional Secretary of Eastern Africa in the Pan African Federation of Filmmakers (FEPACI), founder of Roots and Shoots – Jane Goodall Institute.
Eng. Ismail Taifa, Lecturer, University of Dar es Salaam, Tanzania
Mr. Ismail Rugainamla Taifa is presently an Assistant Lecturer, Department of Mechanical and Industrial Engineering at University of Dar es Salaam, Tanzania.
His areas of research and interests are Logistics & Textile Supply Chain Management, Quality Engineering & Management, Production and Operations Management and Industrial Engineering in General
Elizabeth Mbabazi Kagwa, Manager AfriArt Gallery
Elizabeth Mbabazi-Kagwa is an artist, fashion designer, art manager with diverse and commendable skills in contemporary art, fashion design and art gallery’s operations in Kampala and attained formal training from Makerere University and added cultural entrepreneurial training from the African Arts Institute in Cape Town, South Africa.
Elizabeth currently manages the leading contemporary art gallery in Kampala; Afriart gallery and also lectures Fashion Design at St. Lawrence University renown for promoting entrepreneurship as she values skills sharing and nurturing while interacting with young creative minds alongside running her private bespoke label ME-UG Ltd.
Dr. Mona Mwakalinga, Head of Creative Arts Department, University of Dar es Salaam, Tanzania
Dr. Mona Ngusekela Mwakalinga is a Lecturer of Film and Media Studies at the Department of Creative Arts of the University of Dar es Salaam. She graduated with a Bachelor of Arts in Theatre Arts and a Masters of Arts in Theatre Arts from the University of Dar es Salaam. She holds a PhD in Film and Media Studies from the University Kansas, USA. Dr. Mwakalinga, currently is the Director of Public Service at the University of Dar es Salaam. She is a theatre practitioner, facilitator, trainer and instructor in both film and theatre arts. She researches diversely in theatre practice in Tanzania and the Tanzania’s film industry.
Dr. Mwakalinga who has worked with both national and international organizations at different capacities has recently trained artist on how to turn their talents into businesses.
Dr. Kedmon Mapana, Head of Department of Creative Arts, University of Dar es Salaam
Kedmon Elisha Mapana is a senior lecturer and head of the Department of Creative Arts, University of Dar es Salaam Tanzania, where he lectures courses in the area of music, music education, ethnomusicology and education. He has given music and dance workshops and performances at numerous schools, universities, churches and community events in Zimbabwe, Mayotte, Sweden, Denmark, Poland, Germany and the United States of America. He was honored to perform at McCaw Hall for numerous dignitaries at the opening of the new Bill and Melinda Gates Foundation campus in Seattle, USA. He was a visiting artist and visiting scholar at the University of Washington, Seattle, USA.
He has published seven manuscripts in prestigious, peer-reviewed journals (three articles: 2007, 2012, 2013) and edited book chapters (one in 2013 and three in 2016). Recipient of a 2009 fellowship award from Jubilation Foundation, Recipient of a 2010-2011 award from AIRS (Advancing Interdisciplinary Research in Singing, Canada) for research on Wagogo children’s music, and a teaching artist for Smithsonian Folkways certification workshops, Recipient of a 2013 collaboration fellowship award from Jubilation Foundation. He received a presidential citation award as an outstanding graduate student in the 2013 year at Seattle Pacific University where he earned his PhD. Apart from his academic responsibilities at the University of Dar es Salaam, Mapana is the director of the Wagogo Annual Music Festival in his hometown Chamwino in Dodoma region, Tanzania.
Editrudith Lukanga, Board member, CDEA, Tanzania
Editrudith is currently an Executive Director of EMEDO, an NGO advocating for Natural resources management where she steers her team, both in terms of creating strategic direction and coaching staff on how to excel in their practice and thematic expertise. She greatly values working on team dynamics, and has created linkages with national and international networks where she has built an institution, with a strong profile both towards partners and beneficiaries.
She has a dedicated commitment to hard work and achievement that contributes to broad based sustainable human and economic development of the people she serves. Editrudith is a Co President for the World forum of fish harvesters and fish workers (WFF) since Nov 2012.
Robert Mwapembwa, Chair, Tanzania Association of Visual Arts (TAVA)
Robert is an artist living in Dar es salaam. He is a Chairman of Tanzania Association of visual artists(TAVA), chairman of Pamoja Arts Group and Director of planning, administration and finance of Tanzania Federation of Arts and Crafts (TAFCA).
Robert is a writer and producer of artistic television and Radio shows including Pikabom Puppet show, and Tingatinga Tales. He has also worked as a painter, scriptwriter, cartoonist and satirist in major Tanzanian media outlets since 1987 and has exhibited works in Tanzania, Kenya, Uganda and Finland.