Prampram Youth Chief explores possible cultural collaboration with Nkyinkyim, the slave museum

By Aaron Akwetey BOTCHWEY

The Youth Chief of Prampram, Nene Teye Nartey I, is seeking to explore a potential collaboration between his office and that of Nkyinkyim Musem in Ada, organisers of the annual Ancestor Veneration ceremony.

This came to light when he joined other dignitaries to attend this year’s ceremony in Nuhalenya, a small farming community in Ada.

Following previous postponement due to circumstances beyond the control of the organisers, this year’s event followed the same pattern as before with a lot more detailed involvement of members of the diaspora, especially descendants of slaves who are either living in Ghana or visiting for purposes of the ceremony.

As part of the programme, participants took a solemn march to the grounds where the sculptured heads symbolising various slaves have been kept.

Prayers were offered in the form of libation and meditation. Clothed in his full royal regalia with a team of Asafoatsemei from the Prampram Traditional Council, Nene Teye Nartey I used the occasion to honour the ancestors.

Speaking to PramCitiTV during the spiritual ceremony, he acknowledged the importance of the departed souls to the living. He said it is important that a conscious effort is made to always honour the memory of the ancestors because of the unique role they play in the everyday life of those still alive.

“We have learnt a lot of things… We forget our ancestors and think about only the living, but the education we have gotten here means we don’t have to forget our ancestors because they are important to us and our progress as a people.”

Nene Teye Nartey I, who was full of praise for the organisers of the event and managers of the museum, said there is always the need for those still alive to be humble and learn about the past because through that they will understand the world better.

He said Prampram has a lot to learn from the museum and its work and will explore opportunities for a collaboration between the museum directors and his office to see how the youth of Prampram and the entire traditional area will benefit from such an important thing.

The Ancestor Project is a non-profit organisation founded by Ghanaian multi-disciplinary artist, activist and educator Kwame Akoto-Bamfo.

The Ancestor Project is dedicated to fostering healing for people of African descent from the legacies of colonialism and enslavement through art, education and cultural  heritage preservation. The organisation also seeks to empower Africans and preserve its rich cultural heritage.

Nkyinkyim Museum is an ongoing project under the Ancestor Project, led by founder and CEO Kwame Akoto-Bamfo. The museum is constantly evolving to seamlessly combine community-based African art, spirituality, history and performance to promote tangible and intangible cultural heritage such as traditional African art and its related intangible heritage; drumming, dancing, traditional rites and healing, traditions, knowledge of natural spaces, land cultivation and cooking skills.

The Nkyinkyim Museum, through its various programmes, is committed to guiding visitors through restorative and transformative justice – leading to healing.

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