AFROKIDS FOUNDATION FESTIVAL CELEBRATION GIVES SCHOOL CHILDREN MUSICAL AND ENTREPRENEURIAL SKILLS.

Arts festivals in schools and other learning facilities are very vital for fostering creativity, cultural understanding, and meaningful social interactions, providing an avenue for learners to exhibit their talents and build confidence.

Last Tuesday and Wednesday, an atmosphere of excitement, passion and artistry was occasioned during a two-day Afrokids Arts Festival held in Rycon Academy at Flatland in Dodowa in the Shai-OsuDoku District. It was under the theme “Preservation of Cultural Heritage”

On the first day of the two-day festival celebration, witnessed a workshop that practically exposed learners to some tools and techniques in handicrafts steeped in tradition, depicting ancestral knowledge and skills passed down through one generation to another.

All four groups of learners at the workshop featured school children from Basics 1-6 engaged in beading, painting, balance drum, and hand fans making. Shrewd and astute resources persons were recruited to facilitate this training education workshop for the enthusiastic students-participants at Rycon Academy.

According to Mrs. Gladys Gbordzor Asamany, the facilitator for the Beading workgroup, beading or beadwork was one of the age-old occupations of our forebears. It was an aspect of our culture that expressed our unique sense of beauty and cosmetology. She further indicated that participants in her group would acquire entrepreneurial skills that would empower them to start a business in beading after school. In this particular training, footwears (flip-flops) were adorned with beads as a way of adding value to such products.

Sharing his experience, Mr. Adams Agbenyega the facilitator for the Painting workgroup, disclosed that learners possessed great imaginative skills and that after observing their artworks, it was necessary to always allow learners to operate freely once quality guidance had been given. This he said allowed for immense creativity and critical thinking prowess.

The arts festival was characterised by traditional music performances, poetry, ethnic fashion and art exhibitions (painting), craft work and captivating performances from a parade of school models and the school choir.

Hand fans, and balance drums making facilitator Mr. Wisdom Kekrebisi Asamany explained that climate change and hot weather conditions underpinned his interest to train learners to develop the skills in hand fan making. The portable handicraft brought satisfaction during hot weather conditions by making it possible for people to fan themselves during hot temperatures.

Speaking on the theme, the founder and Chief Executive Officer of the Foundation, Theophilus Kwame Kekrebisi Asamany indicated that every effort must be made to introduce all aspects of the African-Ghanaian culture to the younger generation. “I have observed throughout my travels to other parts of the country, and beyond its borders, that most people do not know about our indigenous African and Ghanaian musical instruments, inventors and their origin. Not only are those but also, most are unable to play these instruments. The drive to orient some Ghanaian children to play foreign instruments is so high and effective to detriment of indigenous ones.”

Theophilus Kwame Kekrebisi Asamany (Asamani) the afrojazz musician further indicated that “that phenomenon devalued our culture and plunged our heritage into insignificance. To reverse the trend, the time was now for initiative such as this to be rolled out in schools for the African and Ghanaian child to share with the world his God given talent which was needed for humanity much the same way as other foreign ones.” He posited that “music was not only food for the soul but also a communication of the soul to the wider world.”

The festival was attended by parents of learners and other distinguished personalities connected to the arts including Rabi Sika Attah, Chief Moomen, Wanlov Kubolor, Kewku Aacht, Sir Alexander, Abena Serwaa, Mama Sitso, among others. Chief Moomen commended Afrokids Foundation and the founder for initiating this revolution to preserve Ghana’s traditional heritage. He noted that the project ought to be sustained to strengthen the quality of impact on the school children as regards the skills till they complete their basic education.

Michael Rexford Addo Carbonu, lauded the initiative by Afrokids Foundation stating that participants were better positioned to start a trade or business with the skills acquired. He made the call for financial support and sponsorship to enable the Foundation scale up this initiative for the benefit of other learners in other parts of Ghana.

During the ceremony, a medley of musical performances were staged featuring African and Ghanaian musical instruments such as the atenteben, seperewa, kora, ngoni, djembe, and calabash drums. The occasion was used to showcase Kadanu and Kaponu, newly invented Ghanaian instruments by Asamani who performed some patriotic songs on the atenteben along with the school choir, Abena Serwaa on seperewa and Lucas Doe on the flute.

Michael Rexford Addo Carbonu.
[email protected]