Asare Konadu Yamoah speaking at the opening ceremony of the festival
The Omanhene of the Essikado Traditional Area, Nana Kobina Nketia V, has urged creative arts practitioners in the country to engage in positive action using the arts to ensure national development.
Speaking at the opening ceremony of the Atuu Festival of Arts held in Essikado in the Western Region last Friday, the Omanhene said the symbolism of opening the Atuu Festival at the Essikado Positive Action Circle is to reinvigorate the nation’s creative arts practitioners for the emancipation of the people’s minds and the ultimate development of the nation.
He stated that the early fighters for independence which gave birth to the ‘Positive Action’ call by Osagyefo Dr Kwame Nkrumah were from Essikado, hence the naming of the Positive Action circle.
The Chairman for the occasion and Omanhene of Lower Dixcove Traditional Area, Nana Kwasi Agyemang IX, on his part, described the Atuu Festival as a great opportunity to celebrate the cultural diversity of Ghana.
He highlighted that the hugging aspect of the festival will drive home the togetherness “of our people as we hug each other in brotherly and sisterly love.”
At the ceremony, Nana Kobina Nketia V was also honoured as the chief patron of the Atuu Festival of Arts in recognition of his immense support for the arts and culture of Ghana.
The Atuu Festival of Arts is an initiative by the Joint Committee of Collective Management Organisations (JCCMOs) which comprises the three collection management organisations in Ghana. These are Ghana Music Rights Organisation (GHAMRO), Audio Visual Rights Organisation (ARSOG) and Copy Ghana.
The Chairman of the Atuu Festival planning committee, Asare Konadu Yamoah, described the festival as “a window for the people of Ghana and, of course, the world to understand Ghana as a country and the culture of the people”.
“It is also an important platform for the exchange of cultural ideas and cooperation between the various actors who are the right holders,” he added.
According to him, “The festival also would eventually bring talents to the fore and help promote these talents and offer them the opportunity to showcase their creation to the world.”
There was a storytelling performance by B.O Entertainment, a Takoradi-based drama group, cultural displays and a live musical performance by Tic Tac, who thrilled the crowd with his unannounced performance. There were exhibitions of books and an exhibition of paintings and photographs generated much interest.
As part of the festival, entries are invited from the youth aged between 15 and 21 in the areas of songwriting, sights and sounds and creative writing.
The songs are to be recorded and submitted in mp3 format while the creative writing should be on culture and development. For the sights and sounds, entries can either be pictures, paintings or five minute videos with a cultural or tourism angle and must be submitted to the Copyright Office in Accra. Details are available on the Atuu Festival website and social media platforms.
The Atuu Festival of Arts will comprise community exhibitions and performances nationwide, a musical concert, a symposium and climax with an awards night on August 25 in Accra. The theme for the festival is ‘Our Culture, Our Development’.