Luanda: Angola has embarked on an ambitious project to create a Semba Tourist Route aimed at preserving and promoting the country’s rich musical heritage. The initiative spans six provinces, including Cuanza Norte, Luanda, Cuanza Sul, Benguela, Huila, and Namibe, as announced by project coordinator Helio Arago.
According to Angola Press News Agency, Helio Arago stated that the provincial governments are actively developing tourist routes to offer guidance to visitors interested in exploring Angola’s cultural landscape. The project plans to soon reveal the specific locations along the Semba Tourist Route, focusing on areas where Semba music is historically and culturally significant.
Arago expressed optimism that the initiative would bolster local economies, particularly benefiting families impacted by a reduction in tourism. He highlighted ongoing efforts by the Angolan government, in collaboration with UNESCO, to achieve recognition of Semba as an Intangible Cultural Heritage.
The project, promoted under
the banner ‘Semba in the World,’ is a collaborative effort involving the Ministries of Culture and Tourism and the 1.º de Agosto Sports Club. The launch of the Tourist Route was symbolically marked by the illumination of a Semba sign at a location now known as ‘Miradouro do Semba.’