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Momodou
Denmark
11717 Posts |
 Posted - 18 Dec 2007 : 21:30:05
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CULTURE, INTEGRAL TO GAMBIA’S DEVELOPMENT
Says SoS Tourism
By Annia B. Gaye
The Honourable Secretary of State for Tourism and Culture, Hon. Angela B. Colley has said that culture must be seen as an integral part of the Gambia’s development agenda. She added that our cultural norms and values, traditional customs and rites, folktales, riddles and games, traditional music, dance and theatre which account for the country’s cultural identity must be preserved, harnessed and developed for posterity.Madam Colley made these remarks at the opening of a three day workshop to update the Cultural Policy of the Gambia, from the 13 to 15 December, at the Baobab Holiday Resort in Bijilo.
SoS Coley noted that there is need to continue indepth research into the various aspects of our Culture so that it can be documented for now and posterity. She said our cultural values need to be instilled in the young people who are the future leaders of this nation and that they must be oriented on the cultural norms and values of the society.
She said that young people should be well conversant with good virtues that our forebears had bequeathed to the nation so that they will grow up to become responsible members of society and future leaders of this nation. “Our cuJltural policy and the cultural action plans derived from the policy must therefore provide the opportunities and the enabling environment for young people to take their rightful place in the cultural sector,” she said.
She mentioned that the current Cultural Policy of The Gambia dates back to “1988, which has been reviewed a few times in the course of the last fifteen years. She further mentioned that such reviews have stopped short of truly updating the policy procedurally and bring it in line with the dictates of present day circumstances in all spheres of cultural life that the nation currently faces.
“The material and cultural heritage of our country is equally important. In the recent past, some of our major historic sites have now been inscribed in UNESCO’s prestigious world heritage list, maintained at the World Heritage Centre. Those sites and indeed all our other sites of historic and cultural relevance must be conserved, interpreted and development for the social, economic, educational and cultural development of The Gambia,” she said.
She concluded by expressing hope to the participants that her Department of State received the finalised and updated Cultural Policy document.
The Secretary General Gambia National Commission for UNESCO, Mrs. Sukai Bojang, said that the Islamic, Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organisation (ISESCO) is funding the updating of the cultural policy under its 2007 to 2009 Action Plan. This, she said, is stipulated in its cultural programmes. The organisation will seek to contribute towards the elaboration of culture policies “conducive to the positive interaction of culture tourism and environment in member states”, she remarked.
Mrs. Bojang defined culture as “Knowing the best of everything and propagating such knowledge to posterity….seeing things as they really are and making truth prevail. It brings peace of mine and helps mankind to achieve spiritual perfection.”. She urged participants to look at issues that affect artists, craftsmen and others so as to protect their work and build their capacities.
The Director of National Arts and Culture, Mr. Momodou Joof, also underscored the importance arts and culture in our country and urged participants to be serious on the updating of the policy. He thanked UNESCO and the ISESCO for funding the workshop.
Source: Foroyaa Newspaper Burning Issues
Issue No. 148, 17 – 18 December 2007
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A clear conscience fears no accusation - proverb from Sierra Leone |
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Santanfara
3460 Posts |
Posted - 21 Dec 2007 : 18:15:19
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| the sos is right .there have been many tribal assimilations over the years in the gambia especailly banjul.many malian who settle there earlier end up taken other surnames and then erase their history.this is indeed sad.i hope some one out there can shed light on why many residents of banjul and other areas choose to change their tribes in the early days of settlement in banjul.the uniqueness of our individual cultures make us different and diverse.people should learn about our cultures ,from before colonial times to today.there is a good book that explore of cultures.i will write its details here next time. |
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
www.suntoumana.blogspot.com |
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kobo
United Kingdom
7765 Posts |
Posted - 06 Mar 2008 : 20:51:55
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| Courtesy of Google search engine for Patience Godwin on Gambia culture, literature and beautiful photos under this link http://www.gambia.dk/cu.html |
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kayjatta
2978 Posts |
Posted - 07 Mar 2008 : 03:23:20
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| Thanks Kobo for that link, I am a lifelong admirer of Peters, and I read a lot of his works. In the early 1990s I met with him a few times at his Farato Farms, and rode in the back of his car a few times, a rare happening that Peters himself mentioned in one of his poems about a muse that occupies all the passenger seats of his car. The complexities of Peters' intellect as a surgeon, novelist, and poet,also strangely mirrors his humble and generous lifestyle. A great writer, and a great Gambian he is... |
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kobo
United Kingdom
7765 Posts |
Posted - 08 Mar 2008 : 19:02:19
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Peters (Mentor!) Kay(Muse!).That makes a VERY VERY INTERESTING STORY AND WONDERFUL!
Am afraid that Patience Sonko - Godwin may not be Dr. Peters. Never had any other name for Dr. Peters(Atheist, Poet & Surgeon) Can you help with ACTUAL NAME (whether it be Patience Sonko - Godwin or not)
I was thinking that Patience Sonko - Godwin was related to Goree (Njie's) family. I may be wrong
Therefore, WHO IS PATIENCE SONKO - GODWIN |
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kayjatta
2978 Posts |
Posted - 08 Mar 2008 : 23:19:50
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No, no, no, Kobo you didn't get it right. I was not the muse in Peters' poem, the poem was written long before I was privileged to meet this renown Gambian only in my capacity as a president of a science club. Let me explain this:
If you went to school around the time I did, you will probably remember that Peters was known (atleast among student commuters) for not picking students in his car. This fact is what he mentioned in the poem by way of a jealous muse occupying the passenger seats of his car so that there is no room for anybody else (my interpretation).
Many writers are 'tormented' by sudden episodes of inspirations/revelations where torrents of new ideas emerge (supersttitiously given by a god/godess, the muse). Therefore, Peters being such a prolific writer, you can assume that he is always preoccupied mentally and perhaps absent minded as most thinkers are. Hence the idea or the suggestion that he is always in the company of the jealous muse... |
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kayjatta
2978 Posts |
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kobo
United Kingdom
7765 Posts |
Posted - 11 Mar 2008 : 18:39:57
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| Thanks Kayjatta for CLARIFIACTIONS & LINK above. Its GIVE & TAKE BUSINESS THEN! |
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