By Yunus S Saliu
For conservation and preservation of one among the Africans longstanding culture, the Kansala Trust Organisation in collaboration with the National Centre for Arts and Culture have expressed interest to inscribe Futampaf as UNESCO List of Humanities in Bwiam, Foni Kansala District West Coast Region.
In an organised press briefing by Kansala Trust Organisation held in Bwiam on Saturday, the organization revealed its intention of holding Futampaf International Cultural Festival annually at the last week of month of March.
“Therefore, this year will be the beginning of the Futampaf International Cultural Festival scheduled for the 25th to 27th March, 2022,” it was announced by Ousman Jarju CEO of Kansala Trust Organisation.
The futampaf festival will hold in Bwiam, Foni Kansala, West Coast Region and it is open for everyone to participate as all members of ethnic groups in The Gambia and Senegal are invited to the four days full of activities, which meant to safeguarding the 12 standards of the Jola Futampaf cultural activity of “which all Jola descendants in the Senegambia region wish to presented as a cultural heritage.”
The festival among other things will provide a forum for young Jolas and other multi-ethnic communities to experience the Futampaf rite of passage, and thus create positive awareness of diversity of arts and culture; offer a possibility for intercultural exchange between different ethnic groups in the Gambia and beyond as part of fostering local and intercultural dialogue.
It will also promote peace and build reconciliation efforts via intercultural exchange; cultural diversity as an integral part of the Jola Identity.
Among other preparation already in place for the celebration of the upcoming Futampaf International Cultural Festival include training of the Futampaf organizing committee – the executive committee of Kansala Trust Organisation, VDC of Bwiam, representative from the various villages on cultural festival management.