By Ibrahim S. Bangura
Ballanta Academy of Music and Performing Arts, on Saturday, October 21, 2023, has concluded a two-day workshop on creative arts with pupils from various schools in Freetown.
The workshop which was held at the Logie Wright Auditorium at the Academy aims to inspire children to embrace arts as part of their normal life.
The two-day workshop was part of a project, ‘Remembering our Legends’, a scheme undertaken by the Academy and sponsored by the African Caribbean Pacific Parliament Arts and the European Union (ACP-EU) Cultural Fund for West Africa to recognize and honour past and present legends of the arts industry of Sierra Leone. It was facilitated by Jaiah Kemokai, the coordinator.
The project will eventually establish Halls of Fame in a couple of prominent places, produce books and videos about the legends, and sensitise the whole nation about the value of its arts.
The project, which was officially unveiled on Wednesday, March 8, 2023, was also aimed to prepare the present generation to become the future legends and promote Sierra Leonean culture and heritage by giving it the dignity it deserves.
To grace the workshop, were some of Sierra Leone’s Living Legends of the Arts, including Jimmy Bangura popularly known as Jimmy B, the god-father of Sierra Leone Music; Dr. Kitty Fadlu-Deen, the co-founder of Ballanta; Dr. Julius Spencer, the Chairman of the Borad of the Academy, among others.
On the first day of the workshop on Friday October 20, 2023, the participants were taught how to sketch, and were told about the importance of creative arts and the excitement of being an artist.
They were also taught about how to write good and compelling stories as authors in the session on creative writing. This session was conducted by Brian James.
According to one of the facilitators Hawa Jane Bangura, children as the future of any nation need to get experience and knowledge about creative arts. “That is why we are working with children to enable them to think creatively and create something out of nothing. It is very important for us to think creatively outside the box, and that’s what we have been teaching the children to do. Creative arts have made the world a better place for us today. Phones, clothes, etc. that we are using today are all created by persons with high creative energy and spirits. So, we are happy to be working with the children to prepare them for the future,” she said.
On the last day of the workshop, the participants were taught about acting by Elvira Monica Bobson-Kamara, and becoming a professional musician by renowned musician Jimmy B.
Addressing the participants, Jimmy B. encouraged them not to neglect the creative arts. “My parents never wanted me to become a musician when I started my career at a very young age. I had a lot of challenges before I became the Jimmy B. you all know today. You should not give up; work hard, and one day you shall become successful. I encourage you all to embrace the arts. It is very important. I thank Ballanta Academy for their immense contributions to the creative industry of Sierra Leone,” Jimmy B. said.
On behalf of the participants, Komba M. Ngauja, a JSS3 pupil of the Government Technical School, thanked Ballanta and the facilitators for giving them the opportunity to know the importance of the creative arts and being an artist.
She said that she never wanted to become an artist, but the workshop inspired her to warmly welcome arts as a career. “I had no knowledge about the importance of creative arts, but since I am fully aware of its greatness now through this workshop, I will waste no time to embrace it,” Ngauja said.