Culture

South Sudan holds festival to promote peace, unity

Published

1 year ago

April 15, 2023

In a bid to promote unity and peace amid years of conflict, the South Sudanese Ministry of Culture, with support from the United Nations Mission in South Sudan (UNMISS), on Friday, organised a two-day cultural peace festival tagged “Unity in Diversity”.

The first day of the event saw thousands of South Sudanese gathering at the Aweil town cultural centre in the Northern Bahr El Ghazal’s State where vibrant singing and dancing kept visitors thoroughly entertained, local media said.

The Minister of Peacebuilding, Hon Stephen Par Kuol, who applauded the initiative, used the festive occasion to call for “peace and unity among different ethnic groups living in Northern Bahr-El-Ghazal State, and also between them and communities living in neighbouring Warrap State and Abyei.”

He said recent intercommunal conflicts had raised concern that peace in the region may be threatened, but with the event, he hoped the much needed unity would be achieved.

The Minister of Culture, Youth and Sports, Dr. Albino Bol Dhieu, who was also at the event, urged those in attendance to promote peace and unity amongst the different ethnic communities in the state.

He also called for a public platform where leaders of different ethnic communities could speak publicly about the need to preserve the relative peace in the state through cultural events.

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Culture

Ghana mourns as top gospel music icon Koda passes away

Published

20 hours ago

April 22, 2024

Akanimoh Etim

The Ghanaian entertainment industry has, once again, been thrown into mourning following the death of renowned gospel musician, Kofi Owusu Dua Anto, known professionally as Koda, who passed away on Sunday at the age of 46.

According to reports, the gospel music icon and producer died from a kidney-related condition he had been suffering from for sometime.

Koda, renowned for hit songs like “Hossana”, “Nkwaa Abodo”, “Nsem Pii” and “Adooso”, was also a producer of repute who gained fame for his inspiring compositions and his captivating, soul-stirring vocals that struck a chord with audiences nationwide.

A local media reports that he worked with a lot of Gospel musicians in Ghana and Nigeria including popular Nigerian gospel singer, Nathaniel Bassey.

Culture

Ghana’s Elmina Fishing Harbour welcomes first-ever cruise liner SH Vega

Published

2 days ago

April 21, 2024

Akanimoh Etim

The Ghanaian tourism industry got a big boost when the legendary Elmina Fishing Harbour welcomed its first ever cruise liner, the SH Vega, a 280-capacity passenger vessel with a total of 115 persons, comprising 106 passengers and nine crew members.

The CEO of Ghana Tourism Authority, Àkwasi Agyeman, who recieved the vessel, said
nationalities of the tourists aboard the cruise vessel included Australia, Austria, China, France, Germany, Greece, Russia, and Nigeria among others.

Agyeman who spoke with journalists on the historic visit, said the visitors were given the opportunity to explore the Elmina castle and township, the Batik making centre at global mamas in Elmina, the Kakum National Park and the Cape Coast castle.

“It’s another win and boost for Ghana’s tourism industry when the Elmina Fishing Harbour welcomed its first-ever cruise liner, the SH Vega on Thursday, April 18,” Agyeman said.

“Ghana continues to fare well as a favourite destination of cruise passengers worldwide with Tema and Takoradi being the traditional Ports of call.

“The tourists toured Elmina castle and its township, the Batik making Centre at Global Mamas in Elmina, the Kakum National Park and the Cape coast castle amidst traditional drumming and some dance lessons.

“The vessel, SH Vega, dropped its anchor in the Elmina waters, about 8.8 cables away from the port’s main breakwater. It then lowered its Zodiac (inflatable boats) into the water before carefully disembarking the 115 passengers and crew members into the zodiac in safe batches.

“The vessel had previously sailed to some ports including Angola, Benin, Congo, Gabon, Togo and São Tomé.

“This game-changing moment for the cruise liner business in Ghana showcases our limitless possibilities and the excellent potential for the tourism industry in the Central Region and Ghana.

“We stand proud of this historic moment,” Agyeman stated.