The 5th Interregional Music Crossroads Festival will take place in Dar Es Salaam, Tanzania, for the second year running from 22-25 January 2004. Last year's Interregional Festival attracted an estimated audience of 15,000 and involved some 200 artists. For many young musicians, the event is a unique opportunity to mix with musicians their own age and learn from professionals in the field. The event showcases emerging bands from Mozambique, Zimbabwe, Malawi, and Tanzania – selected for participation through national competition. For the first time, bands from Zambia will also be competing for prizes that include tours, radio airplay, studio time and musical instruments. An initiative of Jeunesses Musicales International (the non-profit network for music and youth) and the Music Crossroads Southern Africa program, the festival combines workshops, performance and competitions to promote traditional and contemporary African music played by young musicians. A chief long term goal of the project is to build a self-sustainable cross-border youth music structure in the Southern African Development Community. HIV/Aids related issues are also given priority. For further information, CLICK HERE.