By Juliet Aguiar DUGBARTEY, Sekondi
The Sekondi-Takoradi Metropolitan Assembly (STMA), is to hold the maiden edition of SàkevaTransnational Culture Festival to promote arts and culture.
Sàkeva, is in Ahanta dialect, meaning “go back and get it” and in Akan, ‘Sankofa’. The festival, will be onthe theme, “Projecting Sekondi-Takoradi through Creative Arts”. aims to boost the local economy, promote tourism, and create opportunities for artists and entrepreneurs.
Under the European Union (EU) Funded Twin Cities on Sustainable Partnership Project (TCSPP), the festival, will officially be opened on Thursday, 27th June 2024 to Sunday June 30, 2023 at the SekondiMethodist Park.
The festival, is to develop and promote the artworks of local artists, heritage sites, artefacts, and cultural celebrations in the metropolis. It will serve as a platform to highlight the critical role played by the arts and crafts sector, to create employment and promote tourism and the creativity of artists.
Again, the event intends to encourage cultural exchange and dialogue between Sekondi-Takoradi and its sister-city, Palermo, in Italy.
“The Sàkeva Festival would, therefore, serve as an opportunity to showcase to the world the creativity of our local artists, the employment and tourism opportunities in the arts and crafts sector in the metropolis” Abdul-Mumin Issah, Chief Executive Officer of STMA explained at a Press Briefing at Sekondi.
According to him, the significance of the arts and crafts sector to local economic development in any city cannot be overemphasized.
However, he pointed out that artists, in the Sekondi-Takoradi Metropolis continue to face numerous challenges, including inadequate workspaces, insufficient capital, high cost of lending, limited governmental support and exploitation by middlemen. Recognizing the need for multi-sectorial effort to address these challenges, he said the STMA, is collaborating with identifiable Departments and Agencies to reposition the arts and crafts sector as a pillar for local economic development.
Mr. Issah, mentioned that as part of the maiden celebration of the Sàkeva festival, the TCSPP requested proposals from arts and crafts artisans for grants to produce innovative artworks for two exhibitions at Sekondi-Takoradi and Palermo in Italy.
He said 52 successful applicants have received a total of GH¢238,013.00 to develop artworks in ceramics, sculpture, painting, wood carvings, traditional fashion and basketry (cane and bamboo).
The MCE added that a monitoring team, has been visiting the beneficiaries to ensure quality production and exquisite finishing for the exhibition.
“We envisage the two festivals to provide a platform for the artists, to showcase their works and improve their financial resources to produce more world-class artworks for the national and international markets” he said.
Highlights of the Festival
Arts and Crafts Exhibition: Innovative artworks in Traditional Fashion, Jewelry, Fine Arts, Ceramics, Wood carvings, Photography, Graphic Designs and others, inspired by Sekondi-Takoradi from over 50 talented artists will be on display for a four-day exhibition.
Cultural performances from traditional dance troupes and masquerade groups will be on display. The eight Akan Clan Totems with distinct identities, characteristics and origins would be the highlight of the cultural performances. The folklore of each Clan Totems (Atweneboa) will be the theme for performing with their respective Clan Effigy.
Also, there will be an interactive symposium for Arts and Tourism Stakeholders from three speakers on various topics at the Sekondi Youth Center on Friday, 28th June 2024.
Visual Arts students from nine Senior High Schools will compete in portrait and drawing, whilst their mates from the Home Economics class will be engaged in a Traditional food cooking competition
