The Gambian Minister of Tourism and Culture has said it is now or never people have to correct the wrong and take back what belong to them as the strength and power of a nation doesn’t depend on the military or economic strength but its ability to narrate and preserve its past use it as inspiration for development.
Minister Hamat Bah addressing the community festival organizers during the disbursement of Four Hundred and Five Thousand Dalasi (D405, 000.00) budget allocation meant to support seventeen communities cultural festival’ organizers for the 2018/2019 season, he cleared the air on reason behind the suspension of the famous International Roots Festival.
According to Minister Bah, he said when they looked into departments that things were not done properly like the International Roots Festival they noticed that it (Roots Festival) was “only used to rise millions of dalasi but the benefit is minus, while the money was been spent by individual as you must have heard in the Commission (of Inquiry).
The Minister said the festival was suspended “in order to make it (Roots Festival) more sustainable, viable and reward able.” But added that as new government, stakeholders and all that have interest in it will be called for consultation to look for a better way to celebrate it “because when people take part in it, it becomes relevant that’s why we want to look into how we can make Roots Festival beneficial, reward able, viable and sustainable.”
He went further that “others are benefitting on Roots Festival using The Gambia available facilities for their own countries this is because we have not been doing the right thing.” But assured that right thing will be done to takeover “what belong to us because we have people with brains here and we will use their brains and expertise for the good and benefit of our country.”
On culture, Minister Bah said the country is losing grip of its culture compared to other countries that never lost sight on their collections.
“We lost our culture and adopted others culture in the expense of ours starting from our food, dressing, housing among others which are different from what we inherited and this western cultures are not representing ours but brought threatening to our culture’s future. And if not manage well, we will end up losing our religion, society and end up having violence that is beyond control.”
Coming next year, he said there will be a celebration of cultural week where all the cultural groups and everybody in The Gambia will gather together for one week to celebrate our culture.
He added that it is very sad to know that till today, The Gambia is the only country without a modern museum, national theatre, national troupe, even record studio.
The budget allocation event was organized by the National Center for Arts and Culture in collaboration with the Ministry of Tourism and Culture to disburse money to the organizers of the community festivals.
Author: Yunus S Saliu