Back and Next - Back and NextChange through culture
Monday, February 9, 2009
The recent graduation of 18 students from Education through Culture and Communication Organisation (ECCO) Odibru and Inhesus Universities in Sweden is a real manifestation that culture is a dynamic force.
This rare cross- cutting multicultural program is geared towards promoting and strengthening the existing bilateral relationship between the two countries. The students which comprised of 3 arts and 15 musical students, through an intensive and interactive three-week training were exposed to the arts of traditional dancing and singing as well as customs of some of the main ethnic groups in The Gambia. They were also introduced to West African music and culture with teachers drawn from Daykit Chossan West African musicians.
Education through Culture and Communication Organisation (ECCO), is a charitable organisation specialised in the promotion and development of culture throughout the world. This one is specifically between The Gambia and Sweden. The students were awarded certificates after completion of the three-week training. The graduation ceremony which was held in Foni Berefet, Foni Western Region, brought together senior government and private sector officials as well as the community of Berefet and ex-students of ECCO from Sweden.
As part of series of activities marking the graduation, the students staged performances and exhibition of what they learned within the weeks’ training. The performance was characterised by extensive dancing, singing of different traditional and cultural songs and values observered by almost all the major ethnic groups in the Gambia. The performance was accompanied by an interlude and melodious music supplied by renowned Jali Mamodou Susu.
The most beautiful and interesting aspect of the traditional cultural display was a song dedicated to the risky sea voyage the youth often embark on to Europe. Babou Sarr, country director of Education through Culture and Communication Organisation (ECCO) said the occasion was a historic moment in the lives of the graduanting students and the two countries as a whole. He added that the students are true friends of the community of Berefet and The Gambia. Sarr quoted words of the 44th and first African-American president of the United States of America, as saying ‘the world cannot do without America and America cannot do without the world’.
For Mr Sarr, Europe cannot do without Africa and Africa too cannot do without Europe. “People of the world cannot also do without culture” he said. He then spoke at length on the importance of culture in any given community adding that from December to April, his organisation did receive students for training on tradition and culture in The Gambia.
For his part, Sunkary Badjie, chairman of the Brikama Area Council, extended gratitude to the Swedish students through ECCO for their dedication to learning the art of singing and dancing of the major ethnic groups in The Gambia. He assured ECCO and the graduands of his institution’s support.
This rare cross- cutting multicultural program is geared towards promoting and strengthening the existing bilateral relationship between the two countries. The students which comprised of 3 arts and 15 musical students, through an intensive and interactive three-week training were exposed to the arts of traditional dancing and singing as well as customs of some of the main ethnic groups in The Gambia. They were also introduced to West African music and culture with teachers drawn from Daykit Chossan West African musicians.
Education through Culture and Communication Organisation (ECCO), is a charitable organisation specialised in the promotion and development of culture throughout the world. This one is specifically between The Gambia and Sweden. The students were awarded certificates after completion of the three-week training. The graduation ceremony which was held in Foni Berefet, Foni Western Region, brought together senior government and private sector officials as well as the community of Berefet and ex-students of ECCO from Sweden.
As part of series of activities marking the graduation, the students staged performances and exhibition of what they learned within the weeks’ training. The performance was characterised by extensive dancing, singing of different traditional and cultural songs and values observered by almost all the major ethnic groups in the Gambia. The performance was accompanied by an interlude and melodious music supplied by renowned Jali Mamodou Susu.
The most beautiful and interesting aspect of the traditional cultural display was a song dedicated to the risky sea voyage the youth often embark on to Europe. Babou Sarr, country director of Education through Culture and Communication Organisation (ECCO) said the occasion was a historic moment in the lives of the graduanting students and the two countries as a whole. He added that the students are true friends of the community of Berefet and The Gambia. Sarr quoted words of the 44th and first African-American president of the United States of America, as saying ‘the world cannot do without America and America cannot do without the world’.
For Mr Sarr, Europe cannot do without Africa and Africa too cannot do without Europe. “People of the world cannot also do without culture” he said. He then spoke at length on the importance of culture in any given community adding that from December to April, his organisation did receive students for training on tradition and culture in The Gambia.
For his part, Sunkary Badjie, chairman of the Brikama Area Council, extended gratitude to the Swedish students through ECCO for their dedication to learning the art of singing and dancing of the major ethnic groups in The Gambia. He assured ECCO and the graduands of his institution’s support.
Author: Sanna Jawara
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