By Yunus S Saliu
To leverage The Gambia rich heritage there is need to ensure that the country’s tourism product receive boost through new cultural attractions.
Speaking at the official opening of the 3rd edition of the annual Janjangbureh Kankurang Festival held in Janjangbureh community in Central River Region (CRR) on Friday the honorable Minister of Tourism and Culture disclosed that the success in Gambian tourism seen in the past few years with increase in visitor numbers can be attributed to many factors. This “includes the rich and diverse Gambian cultural attractions,” he noted.
Minister Hamat NK Bah expressed that culture has more benefits as “culture helps to build a self identity and pride.” He added that culture is people’s languages, foods, dress and belief systems “that make us as real people and not robots.”
He went on that the stronger the cultural heritage the country have, the stronger and more robust the country’s identity. “Just as it is culture that makes the Chinese recognizable, so it is culture which makes Gambian visible and appreciated,” he stated.
According to him a country like The Gambia that is just emerging from many years of despotism needs culture to generate national dialogue and consensus. And through “our shared heritage such as masquerades, languages and rituals, we can always arrive at solutions to our political and social differences,” Minister Bah stated.
Meanwhile, the third edition of the Janjangbureh Kankurang Festival, he noted, was based on the significance of the Gambia’s cultural heritage for national development as espoused in the National Development Plan (NDP).
He added that “through our shared cultural heritage we can build a united and prosperous Gambia, jobs can be created in the creative heritage industries such as music, dance, community museums, tour guiding, film, photography” as they are prospective job and employment areas.
The Minister revealed his intention on plans to develop a National Fund for Culture to help put more funds on the table for the development of the country’s heritage and “through that fund, festivals like this one and similar activities will get funding.”
The Tourism and Culture headman however dilated on importance of heritage saying it is a “major player in national development which can give youth jobs, tax revenue and help the country to build a booming tourism culture.”
Appreciating the Janjangbureh Kankurang Festival organizing committee, he quickly thanked the Youth Empowerment Programm for their support noting that their role in heritage and creative sector is indeed much appreciated.
The Minister applauded the board and staff of the NCAC, GTBoard and GTHI for their supports and as well extended his ministry appreciation to the National Commission for UNESCO for their supports to NCAC through various interventions such as the Kankurang Centre in Janjangbureh.
Chief of Janjangbureh, Governor of CRR, officials and representatives of Gambia National Commission for UNESCO (Natcom), YEP, Chairman NOC for International Roots Homecoming Festival, GTBoard, GTHI, Director General of NCAC among others made remarks at the opening ceremony of the festival