Build national dance studio …Traditional dancer urges government

Bukom Mama on stage

Samuel Mama Marquaye, a traditional dancer known by his stage name Bukom Mama, has called on the government and industry stakeholders to build a national dance studio to help lo­cal dancers develop their talents.

He said cultural dance would generate more revenue for the country if the necessary investment was made in the sector.

Speaking in an inter­view with The Spectator in Accra, Mr Marquaye said that the govern­ments of Senegal and Guinea had invested in Performing Arts and were reaping the benefits.

He said, “Dancing projects the aesthetic culture of the country and it could be used to preserve our heritage when the needed atten­tion is given to it.”

“We can’t go away from our tradition and our heritage, therefore, we need sponsorship and promotion to help increase youth involvement in this rich cultural heritage,” he said.

The performer with two decades of experience in the industry, observed that cultural dancers had not received the nec­essary recognition over the years and that it was time to change the narrative.

According to him, West­ern influence on Ghanaian music and dance was killing indigenous cultural heritage. For this reason, he said the government and stakehold­ers should “invest in the industry so that the values of traditional dancing and drumming can be exposed and enhanced.”

He further called for equal op­portunities for traditional drum­mers and dancers so they could drive good financial returns from their craft.

 By Joyceline Natally Cudjoe