2nd edition of Bakau festival underway

Bakau Youth Development Association (BYDA) have started their festival which marks the 2^nd edition and is gears to celebrate cultures, dialogue, socialization and discussing issues of development in the community.

These were revealed recently at a conference held at a local hotel in Bakau.

Ebrima Darboe, the public relations officer of BYMA explained that the organisation is a group that is formed by young people within the community of Bakau. Added that as young people, they believe it’s important to organise themselves, come together and actively participate towards community development.

“We made a commitment to empower ourselves and others to different initiatives. Since the establishment of the association, we had series of programs and activities that are meant to add value to the livelihood of the people within the community of Bakau. The festival is the initiative of the association,” he said.

He stated that they organized the program in order to celebrate, promote culture and reflect on heritage, and to promote diversity, inclusiveness, tourism within the Bakau community.

“There are efforts to mobilize all the sectors to come together and make it a big event. The whole festival is nine days.”

Pa Alieu Ceesay, the chairman of the association lamented that they want to promote culture, entertainment, sport and conferences. He highlighted that the festival started on the 27^th, which they made the opening ceremony in the morning and musical jambury in the evening with musicians within the greater Banjul area.

“There will be also youth forums, sports and carnival that would be conducted on the 31^st of December. The closing event of the festival will be the 4^th of January and there will be an awarding ceremony which will be held at Fajara Hotel,” he pointed.

He reiterated that Bakau is reach in culture and different cultures will be shows during the festival days. He added that they will be visiting the crocodile pool, Ndemban where many people in the community of Bakau believes that there is spiritual powers where their prayers can be answered and the visit to the grave yard of Sait Matty Bah, a grand marabou who passed away in Bakau.   

Muhammed Lamin Janneh, the assistant secretary general who spoke about the youth conference, stated that is one of the biggest aims and objective of the festival, which is to coordinate the efforts of young people and encourage active youth development in community driving and other developmental initiatives.

“The conference will raise awareness and bring inter regional barriers because we believes that young people living within the community have a lot of issues that are unknown and need to be aware.