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RENOWNED rapper and cultural advocate Okyeame Kwame has criticised the current Ghanaian educational system for making tradition and culture unattractive to young people.
He argues that the current curricula often portray tradition and spirituality in a negative light, alienating young people from their cultural heritage.
Speaking exclusively to Graphic Showbiz after the launch of the Ghana Chieftaincy Awards and the Royal Investment Summit at Swiss Spirit Alisa Hotel, North Ridge, Accra, on Thursday, July 17, Okyeame Kwame suggested the need to stop vilifying tradition and instead present it as a vibrant, integral part of modern identity.
Sharing a personal experience that underscored the damaging effects of such misrepresentation, Okyeame Kwame recounted an incident involving his then seven-year-old son, who attended an American school in Ghana.
“During an art class, a Ghanaian teacher introducing the class to body painting told the children that when fetish priests paint their bodies, they’re evoking evil spirits.
“My son, who is familiar with the cultural significance of traditional priests, raised his hand and said, ‘First of all, he’s not a fetish priest—he’s a traditional priest. Secondly, this is the same person who advises the chief, organises communal clean-ups, serves as a midwife and pours libation to honour our ancestors. So, how is he evil?”
“My wife and I went to the school and urged the teacher to correct the harmful stereotype. That unconscious bias against our own culture is what we need to fix,” he said.
The Woso hitmaker disclosed that Ghana's cultural heritage has been instrumental in his success and relevance in the music industry.
“For instance, I’ve used my voice, music and visuals to communicate the essence of who we are – through ethics, morality and the gold-woven fabric around us.
“It’s about intention – intention to pass on a sense of identity, history and pride to the youth so they don’t forget where they come from,” he added.
Okyeame Kwame, who is also the Made-in-Ghana Ambassador, explained there was a need for deliberate efforts to weave cultural pride, chieftaincy practices and traditional symbols into the fabric of contemporary entertainment and lifestyle.
He called on musicians, filmmakers, fashion designers and digital content creators to boldly incorporate traditional motifs and stories into their work.
“Bringing chieftaincy into pop culture is crucial. If our music, visuals and storytelling can project our traditions in relatable and modern ways, we will help the next generation understand who they are.
“If we continue to allow our institutions and our media to dilute or shame our cultural symbols, we risk losing our soul as a people. It’s not enough to celebrate culture on Independence Day alone. It must be an everyday reality.
“Our culture is not outdated. It is rich, it is meaningful and it can be ‘cool’ if presented creatively. Let’s make chieftaincy ‘cool’ again.
