Culture, Arts and Traditions peak at Pre-NAFAC durbar
A master-piece of unique Ghanaian Culture, Arts and Tradition marked this year’s Central Regional edition of the National Festival of Arts and Culture (NAFAC) held last Saturday at Kasoa in the Awutu Senya East Municipality of the Central Region.
The programme in the form of a durbar, served as a prelude to the celebration of NAFAC, scheduled to take place in Koforidua from Friday, November 16 – 24.
It celebrated the aesthetic and philosophical harmony of the various Ghanaian cultural expressions and values of the Region.
The two-day event, culminated in a grand-swelling exhibition of arts and craft that projected Ghana’s cultural legacy and rich traditional values, norms and customs of the various districts of the Region.
The colourful event was put together by the Ministry of Tourism, Culture and Creative Arts in collaboration with the Centre for National Culture (CNC), National Commission on Culture (NCC) and the Regional Coordinating Council (RCC) under the theme: “Empowering the youth through culture tourism and creative arts, for employment and wealth creation”.
Clearly, the Pre-NAFAC festivities have come of age as an asset to nurture indigenous creativity and ingenuity in the Ghanaian to stimulate national development.
It showcased the artistic skills of craftsmen displayed in wood-carvings, stools, linguist staff, doors, chairs, Kente cloths, baskets and jewellery among others.
Amidst regal pomp and pageantry, the festival was graced by players within the Arts fraternity comprising of performing artists and visual artistes, film makers, designers and all allied industry players.
Conspicuously were revered traditional authorities, beautifully adorned in their regalia as they danced to various tunes of refreshing traditional music interspersed with cultural dances and displays.
Colourful costumes, dance moves, drum appellations and varying palanquins depicted the fundamental harmony of the various cultural expressions to reiterate the essence of unity in diversity.
Madam Janet Edna Nyame, the Executive Director of NCC, said the exhibition was key to nurture the tourism potentials in the districts and promote wealth generation among the youth.
She noted that Culture and Creative Arts industry was an essential component of Ghana’s economy that was making significant contribution to national development.
In that regard, she charged Ghanaians to jealously guard against it by steadfastly holding on to it for employment and wealth creation.
Touching on the increasing adulteration of the Ghanaian cultures, she noted that “the infiltration of foreign cultural practices into our culture as a way of life and adoption of same can affect us.
“It is important that we uphold our rich cultures which have been handed down to us through our ancestral heritages and take cognisance of its vitality and values.
“Once we imbibe the positive values we would be better equipped to build a vibrant and multi-cultural society which would be formidable to stand the test of time,” she noted.
Obrempong Nyanful Krampah XI, President of the Regional House of Chiefs and the Paramount Chief of Gomoa AjumakoTraditional Area, who was the Chairman for the function, commended the Centre for organizing the exhibition.
He appealed to the Ministry to be innovative and liaise with the traditional authorities to identify, organise and mobilise the artistic resources in their localities and develop them into commercial viable ventures.
Source: GNA