By: Alieu Ceesay
The rhythmic beats of drums echoed through Sibanor as residents from all corners of Foni came together for the three-day Foni Agency for Rural Development (FARD) Festival. This event celebrated the region’s rich cultural heritage and unveiled a decade-long strategic plan to transform lives throughout Foni.
Under the theme “Unity in Diversity,” the festival brought together residents of Foni’s five districts, senior government officials, including the Minister of Culture and Tourism, Abdou Jobe, National Assembly Members, chiefs, and other dignitaries to showcase the region’s cultural richness and diversity. Traditional dances, wrestling competitions, and the aroma of local delicacies filled the air as the community reaffirmed its commitment to unity and development.
FARD, a non-political association, has long been a community supporter, contributing to education, healthcare, and social welfare. This year’s festival marked a significant milestone when Abdou Jobe presented the association’s strategic plan to the Minister of Tourism and Culture.
Ousman Badjie, FARD’s health secretary, presented the decade-long plan, which outlines five thematic areas: health and nutrition, water hygiene and sanitation, agriculture, youth development, arts, culture, education, and peacebuilding.
Speaking to TAT, Badjie emphasized the importance of the strategic plan:
“The strategic plan will serve as a reference point but also as a resource mobilization tool, and it comprises five thematic areas: health nutrition, water hygiene and sanitation as a component, agriculture, youth, arts, and development, including culture, education, and peacebuilding.”
The plan, which seeks to empower women, foster agricultural growth, and promote peace, reflects the association’s dedication to addressing the community’s most pressing challenges.
For FARD chairman Fakebba Kujabi, the festival served as a platform to revive fading cultural practices and inspire a renewed appreciation for tradition.
“This festival is meant to bring people together to try to showcase dying-out cultural activities. Because some cultural activities are dying out, people are no longer practicing them because of the idea of Westernization,” Kujabi noted.
The festival showcased Foni’s vibrant culture through Kumpo and Bugara Buu dances, traditional cooking presentations, and wrestling competitions while promoting unity among its diverse communities.
Keynote speaker Madam Cecilia Baldeh Saho underscored the importance of education in preserving and promoting culture:
“We should advise ourselves on the importance of education in ensuring that we promote and advance our culture by ensuring that our education is relevant and responsive to our cultural reality.”
As the festival ended, the atmosphere of hope and determination was evident. With a strategic plan and a renewed dedication to cultural preservation, FARD aims to fight poverty and promote sustainable development in Foni.
The festival served as both a celebration and a call to action, emphasizing the strength of unity through diversity and the necessity of fostering a future grounded in culture, tradition, and community-driven development.
