Church moves to promote African cultural heritage

By Stephen Asante/Florence Afriyie Mensah, GNA

Kumasi, Oct 02, GNA – The Atonsu-Agogo Circuit of the Methodist Church has announced the decision to celebrate the first Sunday in October, every year, as “African Traditional Day”.

It is part of a move to help create awareness about the need to adopt and preserve some cultural values of the people within church.

The Very Reverend Solomon Kwesi Bruce, the Superintendent Minister, said the congregation of the various societies on that day, would be adorned in traditional wear, service conducted in their local dialect backed by the use locally-made musical instruments.

He indicated that, by so doing, they would be helping to promote cultural diversity, unity and social harmony, adding that, this was vital for the church’s own growth.

He said the day would be used to highlight and sensitize the congregation to be proud of their cultural identity and aid them to have better understanding of the role “our cultural norms and values can play in helping to advance Christianity and the aspirations of the people”.

The Very Rev Bruce said issues relating to dressing, courtship and marriage, respect for authority, honesty, environmental consciousness, volunteerism, discipline and the fear of God, which were treated with sanctity within the traditional African settings, had contributed a lot to the growth of Christianity in general.

Some cultural practices regarding puberty, naming ceremony and marriage could still be accommodated by the Christian religion, especially so when these rituals come at lower financial cost compared with the Western practice.        

He said their mission was to bring holistic development – education, health and socio-economic wellbeing of the people.

GNA

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