Peter Simon Maqway from Tanzania 
Korea Cultural Heritage Foundation
QPlease introduce yourself briefly.
My name is Peter Simon Maqway, Cultural Partnership Initiative Program 2018 participant from the United Republic of Tanzania. I’m cultural officer working in the Ministry of Information, Culture, Arts and Sports under Culture Development Department.
Since 2017 to date, I am working as Programme Officer in African Liberation Heritage Programme (ALH Programme) which is coordinated and spearheaded by the Government of Tanzania under the Ministry of Information, Culture, Arts and Sports in collaboration with UNESCO and African Union Member States. The programme among other things, aimed at identification, collection, conservation, commemoration, preservation and Promotion of the Liberation Heritage accumulated during the struggles for independence.
QWhat activities have you been doing in your home country so far?
My activities back home are; collection of oral testimonies related to African Liberation struggle, safeguarding of intangible cultural and liberation heritage, identification and documentation of the most valuable archives of cultural and liberation heritage, protect and promote liberation heritage sites and buildings related to liberation struggles, Restoration and Digitization of Liberation Heritage archives, preparation of the legal policies for the protection and promotion of cultural heritage, etc.
QHow did you come to participate in the CPI?
I got informed by my core worker about the CPI Program, after I got the document about the CPI Program I read them and become so excited and I hope that i could be a participant in CPI Program 2018. This dreams become truth after I had received a letter of participation in this important program not only for my career development but also for the benefits of our two countries in developing the culture and heritage sector. I give my sincere gratitude for Korea Cultural Heritage Foundation and Government of the Republic of Korea for this opportunity.
QIn Korea, you are going to conduct research related to cultural heritage. Are there any cultural heritage that you are particularly interested in?
I am very interested in conducting research on community-based inventorying of intangible cultural heritage. This can be done by ensuring the community participation in making inventorying of their own intangible cultural heritage, considering issues of gender perspectives and involvement of younger generation to ensure continuity, identity and pride. Also I wish to learn the methodologies used to protect, preserve and promote the Korean Liberation Heritage struggle (1910-1945). So that in future, I can applied those ideas in collecting, preserving and promoting the African Liberation heritage accumulated during the Liberation struggle for independence (1964-1994).
QIs there any cultural assets in your country that you want to introduce to Korean people?
There are various cultural assets that is found in Tanzania.
The country with more than 120 tribes with huge cultural diversity. The most interested ones are:
1. Tinga Tinga Art work (Traditional Tanzanian Artwork)
Each Tinga tinga picture has a story. The stories in the pictures illustrate the natural beauty of the Tanzanian environment and the day to day activities of the people in rural and urban areas and preserving the environment and Tanzanian Culture.
2. Makonde Art crafts
The traditional Makonde Arts Carving is the symbols of unity, peace and communal means of life.
QIt 's been over a month since you came to Korea. Do you have any tips on life in Korea? Please share to our participants.
I realize that, Korea is a good country and its citizens are welcoming and kind. The country is well-developed in all spheres of human life; economically, technologically, socially, politically, culturally and with its long history that is well preserved, promoted and available to the general public.
The learning environment is conducive thus enable us to learn and continuing learning about the cultural heritage, restoration and archeological surveys, heritage management, visiting various Museums and both archeological and cultural heritage sites. We are also progressing with a language class. All this is possible through the good guidance and coordination given to us by the CPI Coordinator. Housing condition is good with the rooms that are furnished by all necessary facilities in daily life.
Q Please tell us your thoughts on participating in the CPI program and your plans during your stay in Korea.
The CPI Program is very useful for both our career development and increase collaboration between our organization and Korea Cultural Heritage Foundation in future. Hope after the completion of the Program both organizations and our two Countries will enjoy supporting each other in protecting, preserving and promoting cultural heritage, capacity building among the culture and heritage professionals and supporting in terms of working tools and equipment for the inventorying of intangible cultural heritage of humanity and improve cultural infrastructures.
During my stay in Korea I plan to learn more about cultural heritage related issues, doing research on intangible cultural heritage, visiting different cultural heritage and historical sites and continue learning Korean language by knowing that language is a major tools of communication.
