Wa hosts regional arts festival
The Minister for Upper West Region, Alhaji Amin Amidu Sulemani, has decried the impact of modern inventions on local Ghanaian culture, and called for efforts to redeem the pride and heritage of the nation.
He said while culture “is the way of life of people living in a society” which is manifested “in our everyday lives through language, dressing, marriage, festivals, beliefs, food, music, dance, etc.”, modernity and its attendant inventions were posing a threat to it.
“Television, mobile phone and the Internet are exposing our young ones too easily to foreign cultures, some of which are regrettably demeaning to our own culture,” he said, stressing that the revival of the National Festival of Arts and Culture (NAFAC) was a positive effort to sustain national culture and pride.
“Our dances and music are gradually fading away and it is common knowledge that in most of our educated homes, the children can hardly express themselves in our local languages.”
Alhaji Sulemani made the observation at the Regional Festival of Arts and Culture in Wa where native works in music, dance, clothing and handicrafts were put on display at a colourful event that attracted politicians, technocrats and persons from the arts and craft fields.
“It is in this light that I want to commend the chiefs and people of the Upper West Region for continuously celebrating our festivals, notably the Kobine, Kakube, Parri Gbielli, Bongo and Dumba among the people of Lawra, Nandom, Sissala (Tumu), Jirapa and Waala traditional areas,” he said, emphasizing that “these occasions showcase our culture and also unite the people”.
The festival, which bore the theme “The creative arts and tourism industry: a platform for national development”, witnessed traditional dances by the various districts, each one depicting unique culture in costume, music and dance.
On display were various designs and make of smock, hats, and other traditional apparels that identified the people of Upper West from their respective traditional areas, while their respective musical instruments captured their varied cultures in that area.
The Municipal Chief executive for Wa, Hon. Issahaku Nuhu Putiaha, said the event coincided with national effort to create sustainable employment and source of livelihood through the creative arts and tourism industry.
He mentioned the Dondoli Mosque, the Nakori Architectural Mosque and the Wachiau Crocodile Pond as tourist sites that held the potential to drive foreign exchange into the country through the region’s and Wa Municipality’s tourism avenues.