he Director General of the National Centre for Arts and Culture (NCAC) Hassoum Ceesay
The Director General of the National Centre for Arts and Culture (NCAC) has described 2022 as a fulfilled and engaged year for the centre and its affiliated groups after reviewing the accomplishments, challenges, and expectations for the new year.
In a brief interview with this medium, Hassoum Ceesay revealed that the year’s engagement and accomplishments began with the fifth Kankurang Festival in Janjanbureh.
Mr Ceesay stated, “It was a very successful festival organized by the NCAC, Georgetown community, GTHI, GTBoard, and other partners.” “It is a high-profile event.” Her Excellency Dr Isatou Touray, the former Vice President of The Gambia, the Governor of CRR at the time of the festival, Honourable Hamat N.K. Bah, the Minister of Tourism and Culture, and various dignitaries from The Gambia and neighbouring countries graced the edition.
He stated that during the year under review, the NCAC began a two-year UNESCO-funded project to record or inventory the Gambia Intangible Cultural Heritage, “which never happened until now with the support of the UNESCO Cultural Heritage.”
He likewise illustrated accomplishments made in regard to Gambian artists during the year, which incorporate book sending off, loads of movies debuting, theatre creations, and craftsmanship displays. ” The year has seen an acceleration in all of these. Therefore, in terms of art and culture, this has been an exciting year,” the NCAC director stated.
“The ratification of the 2001 UNESCO Convention of Underwater Cultural Heritage by The Gambia with the support of our Honourable Minister of Tourism and Culture – Hamat NK Bah and the support of the National Assembly Select Committee and Gambia legislature with our partners at the UNESCO National Commission is another very important and impressive step forward,” he noted. This will assist us in safeguarding this nation’s underwater cultural heritage.
