Bongo (U/E), Oct. 19, GNA - Eight women singing groups from the Bongo District of the Upper East Region at the weekend featured in the finals of a traditional folkloric music competition held at Bongo. Mr. Andrew Awuni, Deputy Minister of Information and a native of the district, in collaboration with the district Assembly, initiated the event as part of efforts to revive useful traditions of the area, some of which face the danger of extinction in modern times. Speaking at the function, Mr. Awuni explained that the programme began last month with the partitioning of the district into eight zones. Each zone held its local competition and selected the best singing group to represent it in the grand finale.

He said women in the Bongo area wee gifted with beautiful voices and sang very well.

"These sweet traditional melodies have, however, been confined only to the farms, and market place and when the women go to draw water at the river over the years," he said adding that it was time to expose to the rest of the country and the world this hidden talent of the women.

Mr. Awuni, who is also the New Patriotic Party (NPP) parliamentary candidate for the Bongo constituency in the forthcoming elections, called on the people to stay united and to refrain from any acts that would disturb the peace in the area during the polls.

A member of the National Commission on Culture, Mr. Soyiri Suuribataribiin, said government had earmarked 2.5 billion cedis for the establishment of a cultural Fund to assist artists and artistes to develop their talents.

He urged the women and other traditional musicians in the region to organise themselves and to engage competent manager so that they could benefit from the fund to improve their musical talents.

The Regional Minister, Mr. Mahami Salifu, observed that it was through the medium of culture that the traditions of a people are passed down from one generation to another.

"Without culture there can be no future for the younger generation", he said and commended the people of Bongo for their effort in preserving the culture of the area.

Mr. Salifu, however, deplored cultural practices that tend to subject women to discriminatory treatment, and urged the men in the area to accord their women the due respect and fairness.

Other dignitaries who attended the event included Madam Hawa Yakubu, Member of Parliament for Bawku Central and Member of ECOWAS Parliament, and Dr. Gesika Agambilla, Deputy Minister of Ports, Harbours and Railways.

Each of them addressed the gathering, urging the people of Bongo to cast their votes for Mr. Awuni and President Kufuor in the elections to ensure the area's uninterrupted development.

Mr. Robert Ajene, presiding member of the Bongo district Assembly, cautioned the youth against blind imitation of foreign cultures to the detriment of the indigenous one.

He also urged the people of Bongo to let peace and unity prevail as the nation goes to the polls in December. At the end of the contest, the Dua Women Group took the first position, followed by the Sikabisi Women Group. The Bongo-Nayiri Women Group came third, followed by Zorko, Ayopia Gowrie, Balungu and Beong Women Group.

Each of the eight participating groups received a sewing machine, two bags of rice, and cooking oil. In addition, the first, second and third groups received one million cedis, 500,000 cedis and 300,000 cedis respectively.