Let’s cherish our cultures

Nkoranza (B/A), Feb. 2, GNA – The Nkoranza district directorate of education has organized a two-day workshop to update the knowledge of about 150 cultural officers and head teachers of music and dancing in schools.

Mr James Appiah, District Cultural officer, told the Ghana News Agency that the workshop aimed at encouraging teachers to attach 
great importance to the teaching of the two disciplines and whip up the interest of students in the culture of their communities.He expressed regret about how the youth were fast adopting western culture to the neglect of Ghanaian heritage and urged teachers to redouble efforts to teach traditional music and dance to reverse the trend.

The cultural officer called on teachers to involve students in story telling, folktales, poems as well as traditional drumming and dancing
to sustain such heritage.Mr Appiah called on religious bodies not to perceive traditional culture as idol worshipping, saying Christianity was introduced when  the people were practicing their own cultures."The culture of a country makes people distinct from others, 
hence we should be proud of whatever makes us Ghanaians and cherish our heritage", he added.He explained that the way people dress, eat, walk, drum and dance in the country depicted the cultures of the various ethnic groups in the country and it was wrong for the people to look down upon them.

Mr. Appiah urged cultural studies teachers to interact with traditional drummers and dances in their communities and invite them
to help in teaching the students.