The University of The Gambia (UTG), on Friday, signed a memorandum of understating with the Norwegian College of Dance (DNBH) and the Education through Culture and Communication Organisation (ECCO), for the establishment of a Department of  Performing Arts at the University of The Gambia.

The signing of the memorandum of understanding came at the closing of a four-day seminar held at the Sunset Beach Hotel in Kotu.

This department is expected to offer courses such as music, dance, drama, as well as the practical aspects of story telling, and oral drama, among a host of other disciplines. If established, the department, in line with the wishes of its pioneers, would produce a pool of quality students who would go out in the field to develop the music industry, as well as to help promote, preserve and revive the African culture that is on the verge of being overshadowed by Western cultures.

Speaking to the Daily Observer, the outgoing vice-chancellor of the UTG, Professor Andreas Steigen, noted that the establishment of the Department of Performing Arts would be a “breakthrough” for performing arts in the country.

He said that they intend to build a structure in order to make training in the subject accessible to every interested student, and also to get focus on performing arts through education.

He expressed confidence that they will succeed, saying “we’ll never give up”.
Professor Steigen disclosed that the fact that culture is a central aspect in the government’s agenda was a motivating factor behind the initiative.  
He howeve, revealed that “the UTG cannot do it alone without partners, and support from the government and other stakeholders”.  

Dr Omar Jah Jnr, head of Humanities and Arts at the UTG, who also spoke to the Daily Observer, said that the establishment of a faculty for performing arts in The Gambia, would help in the restoration of Africa and The Gambia’s culture and identity.  
Dr Jah said that the authorities at the UTG have realised that some of the good aspect of the African culture had “evaporated” due to a lack of an institutionalised mechanism to maintain them.  

He said that issues such as story telling, and cultural lessons during male circumcision, drama, etc, were now “vanishing from our socio-economic lives”, adding that the task of bringing back to life these lost cultural aspects was part of the mission and vision of the UTG.  

He praised the ECCO/DNBH for bringing the opportunity to build a theatre; something he said would help consolidate the relationship between the UTG and National Council for Arts and Culture.

Speaking earlier on, the country director of ECCO, Baboucarr Sarr, emphasised on the need to have such a faculty at the UTG, disclosing that during the workshop, they had discussed issues such as the feasibility study, training of trainers, as well as criteria of admission into the UTG.

Mr Sarr however, noted that there would be auditions so as to help extract some of the hidden talents of Gambians. He revealed that they wanted to make the faculty a “centre of excellence in performing arts in Africa.”

For her part, the international director, ECCO, and a consultant of the project, Gurogh Brote, said that the initiative is the foundation of a future partnership with the UTG, DNBH and ECCO, aimed at building a centre of excellence in performing arts.  

She said that ECCO has always worked hard towards lifting traditional music and drama to academic level without tampering with the quality of traditional art. She indicated that the faculty would attract students nationwide, as well as internationally, noting that it was important for “us because it would support the government’s efforts towards promoting and preserving the West African heritage and identity. We’ve been very happy with the inputs of stakeholders and resource persons, as well as the SoS for Tourism and Culture who has also been very supportive”.

Ann Krishtian Norum, principal of the Norwegian School of Dance, said that the envisaged department would offer bachelors degree in the short term, and that their long term plan would be the provision of a masters degree.

She noted that the faculty would also cater for students in research and would also help to elevate Gambian culture to academic level.

The workshop was attended by veteran musicians, such as Abdel Kabirr, Oko Drammeh and Cornelius Gomez, the director of Performing Arts, Marcel Thomas, Dr Pierre Gomez, a senior lecturer at UTG, among other personalities.