By Yunus S Saliu
The annual Janjanbureh Kankurang and Masquerade Festival was over the weekend celebrated in a grand style with about 5,000 audiences in attendance. Residents were joined by visitors, and tourists who had earlier descended on the island before the official opening date, 24th January, it was a 3-day of the exciting cultural festival, scheduled for 24th to 26th January 2025
The festival was organized by the Janjanbureh Event Management Committee in collaboration with the National Centre for Arts and Culture and partnered with ITC, Africel, GTBoard, and others. It was attended by different dignitaries, including Regional Governors and deputies, Ministers, officials of ITC, GTBoard, NCAC, GTHI, and representatives from different institutions.
Addressing the gathering at the official opening was Governor Ousman Bah of Central River Region (CRR), he disclosed that the vibrant 8th Edition of Janjanbureh Kankurang and Masquerade Festival was not just a celebration but a colourful display of “our rich culture, history, and collective identity that offered us the unique opportunity to gather as a people, reflect on our traditions, and celebrate our shared heritage.”
Meanwhile, the Governor extended his heartfelt gratitude to the organizing committee, sponsors, volunteers, and all those who have worked tirelessly to make the festival a reality. He noted that the Kankurang, with its significance rooted deeply in their tradition, symbolizes protection, strength, and unity. “This festival is not merely a showcase of our customs and traditions but a vital means of passing on our stories and values to the next generation,” he added.
Presiding over the official opening of the 8th Edition of the Janjanbureh Kankurang and Masquerade Festival, the Minister of Youth and Sports, Honourable Bakary Y Badjie on behalf of the Minister of Tourism Arts and Culture congratulated the community event committee for a “successfully planning and once again holding this important cultural festival here in the Island of Janjanbureh.”
The Minister reemphasized the importance of the festival saying culture plays a key role in every country’s development, “primarily because it reminds us of our past as a people of one country, as a people of a region, but it also helps in molding our young people to understand their background, cultural heritage, but also helps us to determine our destiny as a people.”
He again applauded the people of Janjanbureh for continuity of the festival, and “As a government, we recognize the activities that happen around here, and you can be assured that it is a priority of the executive of the government to ensure that we continue to do our best as a government to promote culture, our heritage, and tradition. One of the good reasons, under the Ministry of Tourism, Arts, and Culture, the government launched a project supported by the World Bank ro reactivate our cultural centers and rehabilitate our cultural sites.”
Representing the Director General of the National Centre for Arts and Culture (NCAC), Siaka Fadera, Deputy Director General of the NCAC stated that since the inscription of the Manding Initiatory Rite of Kankurang in 2008, “there has been considerable effort to safeguard the element. These include and not limited to establishing the Kankurang Centre sometime in 2014 as well as the Annual Kankurang Festival.”
Since the inception of this beautiful festival in 2018, “the Kankurang and Masquerade Festival can be described as a consistent safeguarding measure. Today marks the 8th Edition of the initiative and all indications show that it is already a success. Thanks to the Festival, the cultural practice of the Kankurang is now viable and alive.”
The NCAC works very closely with our partners to ensure that The Gambia’s diverse Intangible Cultural Heritage is safeguarded, adding while thanking the sponsors of this year’s festival such as the International Trade Centre, Africell, GTBoard, NCAC, and all relevant stakeholders “Our sincere appreciation to the Regional Governor, Chief of Janjangbureh, the National Assembly Member, Chairman Janjangbureh Area Council and the Event Management Committee of the Kankurang and Masquerade Festival.
Yusupha Keita, Country Representative (a.i), International Trade Centre described the festival as vibrant celebration that showcases and promotes the country’s cultural diversity and unity. “This festival symbolizes hope, resilience, and the extraordinary power of collaboration.”
He gave a background of the International Trade Centre and outlined its different activities and area of interventions.
The EU Country Representatives, the National Assembly Member for Janjanbureh, the Alkalo of Janjanbureh, the Chairman of the Event Management Committee, and others gave remarkable speeches at the opening ceremony of the festival.
This year’s edition featured scores of kankurang and other masquerades from different communities and regions, while the official date for the next edition is scheduled for 23rd to 25th January 2025.