‘Nyansapo festival and competition’ held in New Juaben
The Ghanaian local language is crucial to enhancing learning and fostering creativity in our younger generation, Mr Alexander Gasu, a Director at the Eastern Regional Coordinating Council has said.
At the celebration of this year’s Nyansapo festival and competition organised by the Centre for National Culture (CNC) in the New Juaben South Municipal Assembly, Mr Gasu highlighted the basic value of the mother tongue in connecting individuals to their heritage and identity.
As part of the festival, a competition was held among the pupils to test their knowledge about the country’s local and traditional songs popularly called ‘Adadamu,’ (Proverbs); ‘Kasakua,’ (Names and their meanings): ‘Edin ne Mmrane’ and Abisaa.
Six schools including Freeman Methodist ‘A’, Nana Kwaku Boateng ‘D’, Samplet Educational Academy, Souls Harbour, Brendford Academy, and St Agnes RC Basic School participated in the event.
Brendford Academy emerged first, followed by St Agnes RC Basic School, second and Nana Kwaku Boateng ‘D’ placing third position.
Mr Gasu added “every artistic creation and form of creativity stem from our language. Our mother tongue connects us to ourselves on a deeper level. Even when we travel abroad, speaking our language with fellow countrymen enables emotional connection and reinforces our cultural identity. It fosters community development.”
In his welcome address, Ernest Dwomoh, an administrator underscored the festival’s purpose as one celebrated annually to teach young ones the local language, proverbs, and the meaning of names.
He said it was part of the initiatives by the Cultural Centre to protect and promote the country’s culture, and the need to raise awareness and educate people about it to enable them understand and preserve it for future generations.
Emmanuel Eddison, the New Juaben South Municipal Cultural Coordinator of the Ghana Education Service, expressed gratitude to the organisers of the festival and hoped that it would help pupils and future generations to appreciate the country’s heritage.
From Ama Tekyiwaa Ampadu Agyeman, Koforidua