By Yunus S Saliu
The Director General of the National Centre for Arts and Culture (NCAC) has called and recommended the creation of a Cultural and Artistic Festival to bring together artists and cultural players in the three countries – Senegal, The Gambia, and Guinea Bissau.
Hassoum Ceesay, Director General of the NCAC made this recommendation at the just concluded First Tripartite Meeting on Cooperation and Regional Integration among the three sisterly countries held in Dakar, Senegal from 15th to 16th August 2024.
Speaking at the tripartite meeting, he noted that such a Festival could be annual and held in rotation across the three neighbouring states to foster unity and valorize cultural appreciation and identity.
He also called for artists from the Gambia and Guinea Bissau to be given fixed quota in leading Senegal arts festivals like the Dak’art Biennial, which is the leading fine arts event in Africa, and St.Louis Jazz, so that “our artists can participate fully in the spirit of Senegambian unity.”
DG Ceesay, in a highly praised presentation at the meeting, added that the three countries, Senegal, The Gambia, and Guinea Bissau, should work together to foster the inclusion of their shared heritage like Kora, Kumpo, Gamo as UNESCO and ICESCO recognized heritage instead of each of the three countries trying to do it alone.
Also, he called for closer collaboration between museums, heritage and history depositories and research institutions in the three countries such as the INEP in Guinea Bissau, NCAC in The Gambia and IFAN in Senegal to conserve documentary and material heritage to fight against illicit trafficking in cultural goods.
The Director General of the National Arts and Culture went on that the Tripartite Agreements signed in Dakar on Friday, 16th August 2024, and previous Cultural Cooperation Agreements signed between The Gambia, Senegal, and Guinea Bissau afford the perfect framework to foster closer cultural and artistic ties to foster free movement of artists.
