Head of the UNESCO office in Ghana, Abdourahamane Diallo, speaking at the event
Jubilee Projections International (JUPI), in collaboration with Walk The Talk Club, recently brought together poets, literary activists, academicians, civil societies and the public under one umbrella to commemorate this year’s World Poetry Day at the Maison Française, University of Ghana, Legon.
World Poetry Day is marked every year to encourage a return to the oral tradition of poetry, to promote the teaching of poetry, to restore a dialogue between poetry and the other arts such as theatre, dance, music and painting. It is to support also small publishers and create an attractive image of poetry in the media, so that the art of poetry will no longer be considered as an outdated form of art, but one which enables society as a whole to regain and assert its identity.
This year’s event was under the theme: ‘Year of Indigenous Languages’.
A workshop was held to delve into poems and reveal its intangible cultural elements, so as to transmit and preserve them. The organisers also used the occasion to promote local languages, engage the audience in cross-readings, among many interactive activities.
It was also characterised by JUPI’s initiative to introduce people with mental illnesses to the society and how they can break the stigma surrounding mental health patients and give them a life beyond their disease.
Other partners for the event were UNESCO Ghana, University of Ghana School of Languages, Careers & Counselling Centre, Bureau of Ghana Languages and Ghana Folklore Board.