The leader of the Amamere Folk Music & Dance Ensemble, Badu Evans at the weekend, underscored the need for attitudinal change towards the nation's culture.
To this end, he said, Ghanaians should encourage and promote their creative industries, which hold the key to the development of the country's creative economy.
Badu Evans, who just returned from Europe, said there was the need for Ghanaians to attach great importance to the nation's culture which include music and dance as the bedrock of our development.
Evans, an experienced drummer and vocalist told BEATWAVES in an interview in Accra that as a fore-runner in the development of Contemporary African Dance in Ghana, his group, Amamere Folk Music & Dance Ensemble has embarked on an educational and performance training programme to educate the youth about the country's culture, traditional music and dance for the past nine years with great success.
He disclosed that his group has showcased and celebrated unique diversities of the country's rich cultural heritage and also promoted excellence and creativity in the arts to the outside world.
He advised Ghanaian musicians as well as cultural music and dance groups to let the import of their songs and dance reflect societal needs and aspirations of the people, adding that music is the food for the body and soul and must always rekindle the spirit while encouraging the body to strengthen itself to face the challenges of the world.
Badu Evans, again, advised Ghanaian musicians and cultural music and dance groups to be humble and work to promote Ghanaian music and culture to the outside world while helping the Ghanaian society to get rid of some of the challenges facing the people.
He noted that for the past years, the group has been involved in the promotion and development of traditional Ghanaian music and dance, and based on its outstanding performances, the group has participated in a number of international cultural festivals in Italy, Germany, United Kingdom, Canada and USA.
He disclosed that his group which has carved a niche for itself in the cultural music and dance industry has participated in so many international festivals in Italy, Germany, United Kingdom, Denmark, Turkey, United States of America among others.
In 2009, the group participated in Canada-Dance World Cup Ambassador contest and Greece International folklore festival (city of Serres folk fest)
In 2010, Amamere group participated in Jutajaiset International Festival held in Finland, and in 2011 it participated in Georgia- Batumi in Folklore Festival tour between 16-28 July 2011, USA - EXPO Americans 2011 in Baltimore, Maryland October: 21-28, Turkey Mercin Citrus festival in Turkey: 16-21 Nov, 2011 USA, B4P Events-New Jersey from November 23, 2011 to Januaary5, 2012 and a host of others.
Badu Evans stressed that Amamere group derives its technique and methodology from the movement's characteristics, aesthetic qualities, philosophy of the African dance traditions and the enormous movement and rhythmic resources available in the various communities.
By George Clifford Owusu
South Africa xenophobia: Business allegedly declines after ownership shift from ...
Kpone Traditional Council announces death of paramount chief after 37 years of r...
Middle East live: Iran says will target any vessel traffic in Strait of Hormuz
Bill Gates calls Epstein meetings a ‘grave error’ while defending actions in hou...
Infantino defends World Cup ticket prices, dismisses referee US entry dispute
Rainstorms from Nigeria, Benin to trigger thunderstorms in Ghana — GMet warns
Accra floods: 70 seized excavators to be deployed to NADMO for desilting — Munta...
Kasseh Market executives stop sale of food near toilet facility
Three arrested over theft of critical equipment at Komenda Sugar Factory
Nearly half of Ghanaians say military rule can be justified if governments fail ...
