By Yunus S Saliu
Delivering a rousing address as he presided over the official opening ceremony of the 3rd Edition of the Kansala International Cultural Festival held in Bwiam, Foni in West Coast Region on behalf of the Vice President of The Gambia, the Minister of Tourism, Arts, and Culture, Honourable Abdoulie Jobe, underscored the powerful potential of the three-day cultural celebration to transform Foni into a thriving center for tourism, culture, and economic development.
Kansala International Cultural Festival is organized in Bwiam Foni Kansala District annually by the Kansala Trust brings together participants from within The Gambia and Senegal and is attended by high dignitaries including The Minister of Youth and Sports, Hon Bakary Y Jammeh, Minister of Defence, Hon Sering Modou Njie, Minister of Tourism, Arts, and Culture, Hon Abdoulie Jobe, Chairman Brikama Area Council, Hon Yankuba Darboe, officials of National Centre for Arts and Culture NCAC, Gambia Tourism Board (GTBoard), National Environment Agency (NEA), councilors from West Coast Region, Chief, Alkalo among other dignitaries.
Speaking before a lively audience gathered in Bwiam, Minister Jobe emphasized the significance of showcasing traditions such as the revered Futampaf, a rite of passage among the Jola people which he described as a cultural gem capable of attracting international researchers, tourists, and investors.
“When well-packaged and consistently celebrated, this festival can provide employment for the youth, attract investment in hospitality infrastructure, and become a major driver of economic growth,” the Minister said. He further highlighted the unifying power of such cultural events, calling the Kansala Festival a vital platform for national reconciliation, peace, and intercultural understanding.
The Minister praised the strong cross-border participation from Senegal, lauding it as a testament to the enduring cultural ties between the two nations. “I am happy to note the massive presence of our brothers and sisters from across the border,” he remarked, as he officially welcomed them to the festival.
Minister Jobe commended the Kansala Trust and the National Centre for Arts and Culture (NCAC) for inscribing Futampaf into the Pilot National Intangible Cultural Heritage Inventory, now under consideration by UNESCO. He urged the organizations to pursue a full listing on the UNESCO Intangible Heritage List, calling it a significant milestone for Gambian heritage.
He therefore urged the National Assembly of The Gambia, Kansala Trust, NCAC, The Gambia Tourism Board, and the Governor’s Office to institutionalise the festival on fixed dates to allow for better planning by locals and international visitors alike.
“I am proud to see this festival on the right track, under the leadership of a committed chairman and team,” he said while he openly, on behalf of the government of The Gambia, made a cash donation of some amount the Chairman of BAC who received on behalf of the organizer for handing over to the festival organizer as he officially declared the Kansala International Cultural Festival open.
Honourable Yankuba Darboe Chairman of the Brikama Area Council expressed joy over the celebration of the festival and said “This festival is more than a celebration, it’s a journey into our past. It allows us to relive the lives of our ancestors by wearing their traditional clothing, playing their drums, and dancing to their music. Moments like these help us reconnect with our roots, learn from the wisdom of our forebears, and understand who we truly are. As the philosopher Harish once said, ‘Knowing who you are is the beginning of wisdom.’ The Kansala International Cultural Festival stands as one of the flagship events in the West Coast Region, preserving our heritage and reminding us of the history that shaped us.”
However, He informed the organizer that the amount of money his council will support them this year is twice as last year and will be thrice next year while appealing to the organizer and the National Centre for Arts and Culture to schedule the time for this annual festival for around early part of the year “this will allow lot of Gambians from the diaspora and visitors to destination Gambia. Thus we want them to witness this history of ours and be part of it.”
This year’s festival featured different cultural performances from different tribes in The Gambia and Senegal. It also paraded different Jola and Mandika masquerades which included Kumpo, Esamaye, Ajadifuf, Kankurang, and a series of others.
The festival focused on futampaf held in Bwiam, Foni Kansala, West Coast Region was participated by ethnic groups in The Gambia and Senegal in the three-day activities, which meant safeguarding the 12 standards of the Jola Futampaf cultural activity of “which all Jola descendants in the Senegambia region presented as a cultural heritage.
This year’s Kansala International Cultural Festival featured a rich variety of cultural performances from diverse tribes across The Gambia and Senegal. Among the highlights were traditional Jola and Mandinka masquerades, including the iconic Kumpo, Esamaye, Ajadifuf, and Kankurang, among others.
The festival, held in Bwiam, Foni Kansala, in the West Coast Region, focused on the Futampaf, a sacred Jola rite of passage. Over the three-day event, various ethnic groups from both countries came together to safeguard and celebrate the 12 core standards of the Futampaf, which is regarded as a shared cultural heritage among all Jola descendants in the Senegambia region.