The National Centre for Arts and Culture (NCAC) last Saturday ended a two-day national workshop on Kankurang traditions of The Gambia.

Held at GAMSPADD Skills Training Centre in Janjangbureh, Central River Region, the workshop was geared towards gathering custodians of the Kankurang tradition in their communities and individuals with special knowledge on local cultural manifestations.

Speaking at the opening ceremony, Momodou Joof, Director General of the NCAC, dwelled on the important roles played by UNESCO in the preservation of Gambian culture.

Mr. Joof pointed out that the specific objective of the workshop was to document the significance of the kankurang to the communities that continue to maintain the preservation and transmission of the tradition to the future generation.

Speaking earlier, Mr. Baba Ceesay, Director of Cultural Heritage, underscored the important roles that kankurang traditions play in societies particularly during initiation ceremonies.

He revealed that The Gambia and Senegal have developed a project and action plan for the preservation of kankurang traditions with the ultimate aim of safeguarding our tradition.

He noted that The Gambia has for the past years registered significant improvements on tangible and intangible heritage of humanity.

The National Assembly member of Janjangbureh constituency, also speaking earlier, emphasised the need for the retention and revival of the kankurang tradition for the future generation.

Other speakers at the occasion included Seyfo Bakary Jam Jawo, Chief of the district and Mr. Ebrima Janko Sanneh from the Regional Education Office, region five.