Drama to expose corrupt political practices

Leader of Nigerian delegation to Accra International Children's Arts Festival, (KIDDAFEST 2003) on Tuesday called for the exposure of corrupt political leaders through drama and culture.

"The power of arts and culture embed on the human minds, its audio visual and pictorial messages should be exploited as a weapon to enforce good governance, accountability and transparency on African Leaders," Ms Ify Kyauta-Teroi told the Ghana News Agency (GNA) in Accra.

She said "if politicians are daily forced to face the replica of their actions and inactions in a dramatised form and its general effect on the population, especially women and children, they would appreciate the need for humane policies."

Ms Kyauta-Teroi who is leading a 43-man delegation to KIDDAFEST 2003 urged African governments to institute a proper cultural policy that would help promote and sustain the rich cultural values of the continent.

KIDDAFEST 2003 starts from December 19 to 22, and it is under the theme: "Our World without Barriers." It would serve as a platform for children's artistic expressions. Performers from Ghana, Nigeria, Togo and Surinam, Europe, South Africa and the United States will be at the festival.

Ms Kyauta-Teroi called for the development and recognition of the rich artistic talents of children to enable them express their sentiments about issues that affect them. Commenting on the theme, Ms Kyauta-Teroi said children should be used to break colonial, tribal and religious barriers as well as fostering new African culture of "one continent and one people with a common destiny," to attain world peace.

She also called for the creation of platforms for children to interact with leaders, local and international role models to impact on their developmental stages. The Reverend Sister Justina Jor who is also leading another delegation from Queen of the Rosaries Secondary School of Gboko-Benue State, Nigeria emphasised the power of arts and culture in national development.

Ms Korkor Amartefio, Director of Programmes, National Theatre, organizers of programme said often children were neglected from cultural festivals. She said the nine-year old programme, had been the only sustainable artistic and cultural festival that sought to address the holistic development of children irrespective of their socio-cultural and ethnic backgrounds.

Ms Amartefio said KIDDAFEST 2003 would bring to the fore African performances of both traditional and contemporary forms in addition to an ECOWAS fashion show, ECOWAS Mock parliament and a Hip Hop theatre, among others.

There would also be African Dance, Drama, Music, Visual Arts, Cultural Workshops and Master and Miss KIDDAFEST.