The Academy of West African Culture, The Gambia
Plans are in high gear for the construction and establishment of a music academy in West Africa Culture. June 16th 2004 H.E the President of the republic of the Gambia laid the foundation stone for the Academy showing his acceptance for the establishment of the academy. This academy will serve as a center of excellence in music and culture in West Africa. This will make West African culture accessible to students of culture, promoting the use of music and drama as a communication tool for development of West African culture, protecting and preserving West African intellectuals property and promote transcultural collaboration. We want to attract the best talents in music, dance, drama and story telling in West Africa and to promote world peace through the creation of understanding and appreciation of each others culture.

The Norwegian College of Dance will be our main partner in the building up of a master degree in dance, movements and methodology and Guildhall School of Music and Drama and Malmø Academy of Music will be our main partner in building up the master degree in music, story telling and pedagogy. Old masters from all over West Africa will be consultants on the building up of the traditional and contemporary, regional and transcultural foundation for the academy.
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ECCOs student groups for year 2004/2005
The last badge of students in 2004/2005 has graduated. Students from Malmö Academy of Music, Stockholm University of Music, Orebro and Ingesund University of Music, Pitea University of Music, all in Sweden, The Norwegian College of Dance and Sund Folkehögskole in Norway, proudly received their certificates of participation in Njawara and Brefet Cultural Camps.

Through ECCO’s exchange programme nearly 200 students from various music Academies in Scandinavia and the UK have completed a three week introduction course in West African music and culture. The courses are recoqnised by the respective institutions of higher music education as a part of the curriculum in the study of non European music. In the coming school year 2005/ 2006 we are expecting students from UK, Sweden and Norway in ten different groups

Festival 
In April 2004 the Norgiean College of Dance stage a concert which took place in Madiyana village and indeed in a very colourful style. This occasion which was seen by many as the first of its kind in the Gambia. The occasion was bless by dignitaries comprising the Minister of Education, members of the Parliament, Chiefs, National Council for Arts and Culture and the people of Madiyana Village with its surroundings.

Brefet Camp 
Work on the camp started in early December 2002. Simultaneously both the construction work and the capacity building went on side by side. In this regard, the staff was well prepared to handle the student group from Orebro from January 3rd to February 28th 2004.

Successful ten years anniversary at Njawara
December 2002 the first international festival anniversary was celebrated in Njawara Village with a diversity of cultural activities. About 60 people from abroad visited that week and the festival was the ending of a trans-cultural module were students from Guildhall School of Music and Drama and Malmø Academy of Music attended. We hope that the festival will be a biannual event.
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Contact ECCO International – Contact ECCO The Gambia