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Momodou
Denmark
11823 Posts |
 Posted - 17 May 2010 : 17:22:09
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Dailynews Editorial: A Cultural Festival or Musical Jamboree
The much talked about Kanilai International Festival is now less than a week to take off and will spread over a period of over two weeks.
The event that begins on Friday 21st May to Monday 7th June has attracted unprecedented publicity.
An organizing committee has since been put in place to see that the event is successful. What yardstick will be used to measure the success of the event or otherwise will form part of this editorial.
Simply put culture is the way of life of a people. It therefore goes without saying that any cultural festival should indeed depict first and foremost the way people lived in past generations and how they live now to be bequeathed to posterity.
Culture is therefore the bedrock of society and should be nurtured for its survival. Over time it is only natural that most of our cultural values are either lost or adversely corrupted.
It is our ardent view that such events should be meant to revive or resuscitate the lost or corrupted cultural values.
What are really these values?
The answer to this question is open to debate.
Most of the time we blame ourselves for embracing western culture to the detriment of our own. This concept is misguided. Africa has had its fair share of the world’s cultural heritage since time immemorial. This is aptly demonstrated by the numerous landmark cultural edifices scattered all over Africa. What are we doing as Gambians in particular and Africans in general to dig deep into these historical remains which are still the envy of the architectural world?
The history of the Gambia did not surely start with the advent of European exploration.
What obtained prior to the arrival of European adventurers does not seem to matter. James Island, Fort Bullen and others feature prominently when we discuss the history of the Gambia as if our past is exclusively linked to Europe. Are the achievements of our kings and other traditional leaders portrayed at the same cultural gatherings?
Culture is not just about music and dance. The festival should critically look into our diverse cultural values in a view to embracing what we feel are helpful and shun the harmful ones. There are serious cultural concerns that are sometimes acrimonious. Where more is appropriate to discuss these issues than at such events? Like we mentioned earlier, as the event will run for about two and half weeks we hope a day or two will be set aside to bring stake holders together to debate pertinent cultural issues. These include marriage in general and early marriage in particular, rape, female circumcision, naming ceremonies and many others.
We are disheartened to note that the Jacksons are already stealing the show. What part has Michael Jackson to play in our cultural revival? Did Michael Jackson associate himself with anything Gambian? The Pop star’s nature and character do not qualify him for such a tribute. What distinguishes us from any other race as Africans is our skin colour. This is the basis of our culture. What was his attitude towards the black race to the extent that he changed his skin pigmentation to white? A tribute is a mark of respect. Does he deserve our respect? No wonder it’s dubbed "the first of its kind in the whole world in honour of Michael Jackson."
Financial support is being sought to make the event a resounding success and individuals, businesses, companies and Parastatals have started responding favorably. We hope the organizing committee will not be found wanting when the time comes for the organizing committee to produce an audited account of all their financial transactions. In the same vein we don’t expect government machinery to be compromised as a result of events in Kanilai.
Source: Dailynews
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A clear conscience fears no accusation - proverb from Sierra Leone |
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jambo
3300 Posts |
Posted - 18 May 2010 : 10:28:41
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when i was there, the publicility machine was gearing up for ths event. it should be a good two weeks,.
But why kanili, and not Albreda. the title Coming back to our Roots, i would have like to have seen more focus on that region.
I went there and you pay 50 dls to into the area just before the best go to st james island.
I DO NOT MIND PAYING, but the area is a dump. do something with the tourist money that is coming in. Nice road to kanili, no road to jufreh.
Local businesses where being asked for donations to the Cultural event, but when I left there was no itinery for the two weeks festival, other than Jermaine Jackson tribute show at independence stadium. |
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Santanfara
3460 Posts |
Posted - 18 May 2010 : 19:18:08
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Interesting point Jambo. Thanks |
Surah- Ar-Rum 30-22
"And among His signs is the creation of heavens and the earth, and the difference of your languages and colours. verily, in that are indeed signs for men of sound knowledge." Qu'ran
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