By Yunus S Saliu
National Centre for Arts and Culture in collaboration with the UNESCO NATCOM and students of Central River Regions (CRR) Thursday jointly celebrated the African World Heritage Day in Kerr Batch Stones Circle Site in Nianija, Central River Region.
Since the proclamation of African World Heritage Day in 2015 at the 38th Session of the General Conference of UNESCO, every 5th May, African cultural and natural, tangible and intangible heritages is celebrated across the globe to raise awareness of the benefits of its promotion and preservation, as well as the related challenges the continent faces.
Joining the celebration funded by the UNESCO Multisectoral Regional Office, Dakar were the Director of Regional Education North, Central River Region (CRR); ward councilors; tour guides from Fort Bullen; Wassu and Kerr Batch Stones Circle; principals and history teachers; Students of Chamen and Buduk Upper and Senior Secondary Schools; residents of Kerr Batch village among others.
Addressing the gathering, Hassoum Ceesay, Director General of National Centre for Arts and Culture echoed that since 1995, United Nations Education Scientific Culture Organisation (UNESCO) decided and set aside May 5 as Africa World Heritage Day meant to “celebrate the beauty, splendor and value of The Gambia’s World Heritage Properties.”
He noted that the stones circle are “closed to you (students) and it is important you get to know the importance of the sites and how the information of the sites can help you in your education pursuits.”
DG Ceesay expressed that NCAC is delighted to be associated with the program “because our mandate is to protect and promote heritage while UNESCO also advised on the important role schools play in heritage.”
The NCAC boss thanked Director of the Regional Education North, CRR for her openness and support to NCAC activities in the region, while also thanked the ward councilor, principals; history teachers; students of various schools and tour guides from Fort Bullen; Wassu and Kerr Batch Stones Circle, music and cultural groups, residents of Kerr Batch for their full participation in the celebration.
He, therefore, applauded the National Commission for UNESCO – Gambia and the UNESCO Multisectoral Regional Office in Dakar “for the supports given throughout our engagements and also thanks to the NCAC staff, artists and others that have joined in the celebration.”
Madam Fatou Jallow, Director of Regional Education North, CRR welcomed the guests to the region and expressed gratitude to the tour guides, students and their teachers for participating fully in the celebration.
She noted that the celebration is a learning day activity, thus, encouraged students to get serious and makes use of the privilege extended to them to attend.
She further advised students to make good use of the materials, do the works and answer the questions accordingly “because lots of resources have used to produce them.”
Speaking on behalf of the acting Secretary General of UNESCO NATCOM, Lamin Jarjou, Senior Program Officer of UNESCO NATCOM thanked the funder, UNESCO Multisectoral Regional Office, Dakar.
He encouraged the students to take the interaction with the specialists very important and “it is an extension of your school day while you should extend information gather here to your fellow students. If possible come out with article, poems, drama and so on about the day. They can be very inspirational to other students!”
The Senior Program Officer disclosed that the celebration is a great day to UNESCO NATCOM because it has to do with heritage and “heritage is about where we come from (and it is) our beginning.”
He emphasised that there are histories behind the existence of these stones circle that they need to find out “that’s why you need to do research to know reasons behind phenomenon. But today’s occasion will be an opening ground for you to know that this sites are not just here for nothingness, it has been here and will continue to be as they are important and to our existence in The Gambia.
He reminded them that it is called Stone Circles of Senegambia because they are not only in Gambia but across the border where they can be found.
Among the Students, Alhasan David; Banna Cham and Saffie Bah all pupils of grade 11, Chamen Upper and Senior Secondary Schools described the celebration as educative and memorable.
They expressed their love for the crosswords, the story behind the V-shape stones in Kerr Batch and also the drawing as parts of the fascinated parts of the works, while they promised to share knowledge with schoolmates that got no opportunity to join in the celebration.
Kemo Jawara, vice principal of Chamen Upper and Senior Secondary School thanked the organizer and sponsor for the opportunity accorded students to take part in the celebration and in particular celebrating the day at the heritage site community.
He urged NCAC/UNESCO to continue in this manner while challenged them to as well come up with more activities for the school going children to enhance their history knowledge.
Prizes were given to all participated students after the conclusion of the day educational session.