By Gilbert Azeem Tiroog
Navrongo, (U/E), April 24, GNA – Kacstone Records, a cultural and creative arts organisation, has organised a two-day public forum in Navrongo in the Kassena-Nankana Municipality to revitalise and promote the sustainability of the Kasem language.
The forum, held under the theme: “The Sustainability and Promotion of Local Language in Social Discourse: The Role of Media and Music,” brought together traditional and religious leaders, education directorates, political authorities, musicians, media practitioners, and youth from Ghana and neighbouring Burkina Faso.
Mr Wenawome Duriyem Aborah, Managing Director of Kacstone Records in a speech delivered on his behalf, said the initiative was inspired by the urgent need to preserve the Kasem language, a vital pillar of identity and cultural heritage for the Kassena-Nankana people.
He noted that the gradual decline in the use of the language, especially among the youth and in public spaces, posed a serious threat to cultural continuity.
“Seeing all of you gathered here is a powerful sign that our shared vision is alive. If our traditions disappear, our identity will be lost for good,” he said.
Mr Aborah explained that the initiative followed earlier efforts, including collaboration with Kasem language author and educator, Mr Joseph Aloa Nabaarese, to develop teaching and learning materials from crèche to junior high school level, and to introduce new vocabulary to reflect modern concepts.
He said Kacstone Records had also partnered with a local radio station to air a cultural programme titled “Dapala Banga Lara,” aimed at promoting Kasem language usage and documenting indigenous knowledge for future generations.
“As part of our commitment, we have distributed 270 Kasem books to schools, 148 to the municipality, 112 to the Kassena-Nankana West District, and additional copies to institutions in Burkina Faso,” he added.
Mr Aborah emphasised that music remained a strategic tool for cultural promotion, recounting the challenges faced by the legendary musician Michael Adangba, who resisted pressure to abandon his native language for more widely spoken ones in pursuit of commercial success.
“These experiences made us realise that music is a powerful medium to showcase our language to the world,” he said.
Mr Adangba, who is the Lead Artist of Kacstone Records, underscored the importance of language preservation, drawing parallels with global efforts to promote indigenous and minority languages.
He called on musicians and media practitioners to prioritise the correct use and pronunciation of local languages in their work, noting that social media and digital platforms offered significant opportunities for wider reach.
“The only thing that will make this go far is the media and social media. You have to push it,” he urged.
Mr Nabaarese, on his part, highlighted the role of education and documentation in sustaining indigenous languages.
He noted that inadequate teaching materials and the increasing reluctance of young people to speak Kasem in public were key challenges affecting the language.
“Language is our identity. Our culture, thoughts, and worldview are all expressed through it. If we fail to promote it, no one else will do it for us,” he said.
Mr Nabaarese also stressed the need to develop new terminology to accommodate emerging concepts, particularly in areas such as technology, to ensure the language remained relevant in modern discourse.
Pe Thomas Aluah Asangchera, the Chief of Kazigu community, lauded the initiative and urged the record label and all Kassenas to keep promoting the Kasem language across the world.
Participants are expected to form working committees to develop actionable strategies and produce a documented framework to guide the promotion of the Kasem language across media, education, and the creative arts
GNA
Edited by Caesar Abagali/Lydia Kukua Asamoah