By Benjamin Makafui Attipoe, Dzogadze
Renowned ethnomusicologist and founder of the Nunya Academy and Nunya Music Academy, Professor Kofi Gbolonyo, has called on communities across Ghana to unite in the fight against illicit drug abuse, warning that the country’s cultural heritage and future leadership are at risk if the menace is left unchecked.
Speaking at the 9th edition of the Kpedudoza of the chiefs and people of Dzogadze in the Akatsi South Municipality of the Volta Region, Professor Gbolonyo said every member of society has a responsibility to help curb the growing abuse of narcotic drugs among the youth.
The Kpedudo Festival, established in 2018, was to sustain, strengthen and promote African expressive arts through music, dance and other indigenous cultural performances. It was initiated by Azagunor Vodzi Oliver Julius Torgbo who was inspired by his concern over the declining interest of young people in traditional music and dance.
This year’s Kpedudoza was held on the theme, “Supporting, Sustaining and Strengthening the Role and Transmission of African Indigenous Expression Art.”
According to Professor Gbolonyo, the increasing accessibility and abuse of illicit drugs and other intoxicants are having devastating effects on young people, threatening the country’s future human resource and the preservation of its rich cultural traditions.”If we fail to protect the youth today, the next generation will suffer. We risk losing not only our productive workforce but also our occupations, our musical heritage and many of our indigenous cultural resources because our young people will not be prepared to assume leadership roles in our communities,” he said.
Professor Gbolonyo stressed that the fight against drug abuse should not be left solely to security agencies, urging community members to support law enforcement by reporting those engaged in the sale of illicit drugs. “Everyone knows someone who is selling illicit drugs or abusing them. We must ask how we can help those addicted while also assisting law enforcement agencies to identify the people trafficking these substances. That is how we can protect our youth and secure the future of our communities,” he added.
Professor Gbolonyo, who also lectures at the University of British Columbia and Capilano University in Vancouver, Canada, attended the festival with the African Chamber Music Ensemble, a Canada-based group that combines traditional African musical traditions with Western string instruments. He explained that the group’s visit marked its first performance on the African continent and was intended to share with African audiences the innovative work they have been undertaking abroad while reconnecting with their cultural roots.
The founder of the Kpedudo Festival, Azagunor Vodzi Oliver Julius Torgbo,
noted that the festival was established in 2018 to sustain, strengthen and promote African expressive arts through music, dance and other indigenous cultural performances.”Our music and dance define who we are. They distinguish us from other cultures and form an important part of our identity. If we lose our traditions, we lose our roots,” he stressed.
He announced plans to establish the Kpedudo Institute of Performing Arts (KIPAD) to promote the study and preservation of Ghana’s rich traditional music, dance and performing arts. According to Mr. Torgbo, the proposed institute is intended to nurture young talents and ensure that future generations appreciate and sustain Africa’s indigenous cultural heritage.
As part of the major highlight of the initiative, the allocation of land for the proposed KIPAD was not only made but also commissioned by the Paramount Chief of the Klikor Traditional Area, Torgbuiga Addo VIV with support from the chiefs and elders of the community.
Mr. Torgbo described the event as a significant milestone in the festival’s long-term vision. He expressed the hope that the institute would become a centre of excellence where young people with a passion for music and the performing arts could receive formal training while contributing to the preservation and promotion of Ghanaian and African cultural traditions. “The dream is to establish a performing arts institute that will provide opportunities for young people who want to study music and dance, while helping to preserve and promote our cultural heritage for generations to come,” he said.
Torgbuiga Addo VIV who is also the President of the Klikor Traditional Council, chaired the function. He described the initiative as timely and laudable and urged the youth of the community and beyond to embrace it in order to gainfully benefit from it.
Torgbuiga Addo VIV also lauded the organizers of the event for the initiative and hoped that the KIPAD project would be given the needed support by all and sundry for its dream to be realized.
The event attracted hundreds of residents, traditional leaders, youth, cultural enthusiasts and dignitaries, as well as several drumming and cultural groups from across the country. A major highlight was the performance by the African Chamber Music Ensemble, which thrilled patrons with a unique fusion of African indigenous rhythms and Western classical instruments.
Dzogadze, a farming community located off the Abor–Ohawu road in the Akatsi South Municipality, is noted for its vibrant cultural heritage. While agriculture and petty trading remain the main occupations of residents, the community also boasts many professionals who continue to contribute significantly to national development in Ghana and abroad.
