Africa-Press – Gambia. The cultural fest, which attracted delegates from across the country and beyond, was characterised with cultural performances by delegates punctuated by entertainment during the two-nights.
The event also attracted artistes from both Gambia and Senegal as well as historians. The annual event is aimed at promoting the rich and beautiful cultures and traditions of the Fulbe people with a view to uniting all Fulbe under one umbrella.
It is also designed to revive the Fulani cultural heritage and tradition both in The Gambia and Africa as a whole. Alieu Sowe, president of Fulbe Africa expressed delight for the successful hosting of the 9th anniversary, saying the move to stage in Farafenni is part of their quest to decentralise the event in rural Gambia.
Sowe called on all to work towards the maintenance of peace and unity among the different ethnic groupings in the country, saying that is the only way to ensure sustainable development.
“Peace and unity is one of the key objectives of the organisation.” he said.
FA prexy commended the people of NBR for the warm welcome accorded to FA and their delegates and for their hard work in successfully hosting the event.
He thanked FA team and partners for supporting the organisation to host this year’s event, further expressing gratitude to its sponsors such as the Q-group, Sultan Traders and Real Estate, EMO Design and Construction, Jah group and President Barrow for their generosity.
Presenting on Fulani cultural heritage, Dano Sampate Jallow, guest speaker called on the youth to be eager to learn the Fulani culture. This, he said, would help a great deal in the propagation of the fula culture and tradition.
Jallow, a Senegalese national, reminded that in Fulani cultural perspective, wives are responsible for caring for the house’s daily activities, while husband are responsible for the daily activities of the entire family.
He thus advised delegates to maintain peace at all time to ensure a sustainable development in the sub-region. Salimatou Jallow, a resource person on girls’ education, outlined the importance of the annual event, while at the same time expressing concern over the high rate of school drop-outs among girls in some Fula communities.
Ms Jallow thus stressed the need for greater awareness among parents on the need for more enrolment among girls in schools and to allow them complete their education.
“If you are educated you will find it easy to have job, earn money and help your parents,” she told the young girls.
Dr. Abdou Ceesay, director of Livestock Services at Ministry of Agriculture, who presented on livestock husbandry’s fate and the future of nomadic and pastoral activities, advised livestock owners to practice modern animal husbandry so that their livestock would yield dividend as expected.
The livestock expert further challenged livestock owners that in order to get the needed benefit of domestic animals, they must handle the animals with great care.
“If this happens the livestock owners work would be productive, ” he said.
Livestock owners, he added, should have their rights that would ensure productive rearing of animals in the country, noting they should have special grazing zone.
“There should be better source of water for the livestock. This would help the livestock carers.” he said.
Alfusainey Dem, a religious adviser for Pabital Pulaagu International, called on the youth to acquire knowledge for as he put it, it is only education that would enable one to achieve their dreams. “Education without blessing is just like a tree without leaves.” he said.
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