‘Sankofa’ to showcase in the UK

Regional Minister entertains cultural contingent

Nana Akuoko Sarpong advocates a change in perception of Ghanaian culture

Accra (Greater Accra) 16 June '99

The first joint musical production between the Pan-African Orchestra (PAO) and the United Kingdom (UK) based Adzido Pan-African Dance Ensemble is to be premiered in Northampton, UK. in October this year.

Titled "Sankofa", the 10-minute musical production shifts from Adzido's predominantly drum music and incorporates other African instruments including flutes, gong gongs, harp-lutes and xylophones interspersed with chants.

Nana Danso Abiam, PAO Director, who was commissioned by Adzido to produce the instrumentation sections of the music, disclosed this to newsmen.

The Director recently arrived from London with master drummer and flutist, Yaw Asumadu, after a two-week working tour with Adzido.

He said the incorporation of other instruments in Sankofa, which is Adzido's eighth production, is in line with the group's principle to "retrieve, represent and make relevant" its African background.

Nana Abiam said Sankofa is a concept of the Asantes that emphasises the relevance of the past to the future.

He said his work on Sankofa include eight 'atentenben' (flutes), five graded 'adawuraa' (double gongs), two rattles, seven 'mpetia' (trumpets) and a 'fontomfrom' (drum) ensemble.

Nana Abiam said that the second phase of the collaboration would be in August this year.

He explained that the collaboration is to ensure that both groups complement each other and to share their experiences to make a stronger impact on the international scene.

GRi../

Return to top

Sunyani (Brong Ahafo) 16^th June '99

The Brong Ahafo Regional Minister, Mr Donald Adabre has held a reception for the regional cultural contingent that placed second in the National Schools Cultural Festival held at Cape Coast last month.

At the reception, the Regional Director of Education Mr B. A. Agalga presented the trophy won at the festival to the Regional Minister.

Mr Adabre commended the contingent for the honour done to the region and urged the artists not to rest on their oars but strive hard to win more laurels for the region.

He advised them to be disciplined so that they could make maximum use of their talents in future.

The Deputy Regional Minister, Alhaji Kwadwo Maama Adam advised the students to take their studies seriously and respect their teachers to entice them to give off their best.

Sunyani Secondary School, Twene Amanfo Secondary Technical, Boakye Tromo Secondary, Duayaw Nkwanta and the Wenchi secondary schools represented the region.

GRi../

Return to top

Accra (Greater Accra) 16 June '99

Nana Akuoko Sarpong, Chairman of the National Commission on Culture, on Tuesday called for a new national perception about Ghanaian culture to promote national development.

"A change in perception will create national confidence in the way we do things as a people of common traditional heritage and development aspirations," Nana Akuoko Sarpong said at the meet-the-press series in Accra.

The meet-the-press series, now focused on constitutional bodies, featured the Commission on Culture, which has ministerial responsibility over 11 organisations.

Focusing on the importance of culture in national development, Nana Akuoko Sarpong, who is Agogo Omanhene, said unless Ghanaians "reach within themselves and restore the confidence which was destroyed by colonisation and slave trade, little can be done to achieve our national development objectives."

Culture, he said, is the foundation that supports national development, and any attempt to destroy it will have serious implications on national aspirations.

The commission's role in safeguarding Ghana's culture to be in tune with national development has been bedevilled by the invasion of "strong and negative foreign values", he said.

This will be dealt with in a "cultural policy", which is before cabinet awaiting approval.

"This document, when approved, will, to a large extent, clearly redefine and establish the desired linkages with other sector ministries to move the nation forward in a collective march.

"These linkages become necessary when we consider some of the current social problems facing the nation, which militate against our social cohesiveness, norms and values."

Nana Akuoko Sarpong, a lawyer by profession, cited recurring religious and ethnic intolerance in some communities as some of the current social problems that hamper national cohesion and development.

While the constitution guarantees individual freedom and liberty, there is the need to respect the rights and liberties of one another, he said.

The National Commission on Culture, he said, will continue to create the necessary forum to discuss issues on tolerance and peace at the national, regional, district and community levels.

The Commission, established by PNDC Law 238 in 1990, has the objective of ensuring national cohesion by the integration of appropriate customary values into the fabric of national life through formal and informal education.

However, lack of funding from the government, as well as the strong influence of foreign cultural practices, has slowed the pace of working towards these objectives.

GRi../

Return to top