Cultural activities in grassfield, what benefits?

By Stephen TADAHA

The month of August is known for cultural activities in the grassfields. An opportunity each year for sons and daughters of various localities, from far and near to gather around their leaders and think of ways of developing their localities as well as fostering their culture.

Although many people CNA spoke to ignore the real definition of cultural week, most of them have convergent points of views in regards to the cultural values and development which they say, have to be the main talking points during this period.

“Cultural week to me is a moment for me to rejoice with my family. It is celebrated in Banso and sons and daughters gather before their Fon and think of ways of developing areas that government has abandoned,” Eliasu, a native from Banso says.

Chefor Terence, President of the Awing cultural association youth wing says the objective of such events is to reawaken the people, especially the youth:

“The objective of such gatherings in Awing is to reawaken the quarters, the village and the youth as well as bring back the village to its former glory. Convince our parents to bring back the children to the villages so that they can came and enjoy the achu, the groundnuts and the corn.

“To restore the past glory, we as organizers of cultural week events, try by all possible means to occupy the youth by making them clean their quarters, then go to the field for physical exercises. You know with the Android generation, youths are gradually going out of their cultures, so we are bringing them back so that the can feel and see the values of the culture through cultural evenings.”

In most parts of the West and North West regions, cultural week ceremonies have been scheduled for August 12 2023.