Stakeholders of Kassena descent from Ghana and neighbouring Burkina Faso have converged on a two-day forum aimed at promoting and sustaining the Kasem language amid growing concerns over its declining use.
The forum was held on 23rd and 24th April in Navrongo in the Kasena-Nankana Municipality, under the theme “The Sustainability and Promotion of Local Language in Social Discourse: The Role of Media and Music,”. It brought together traditional and religious leaders, academia, musicians, media practitioners, and members of the Kasena community.
The initiative was organised by Kacstone Records, a record label managing Ghanaian music legend, Michael Adangba, following observations that the Kasem language is gradually losing prominence, especially among the youth.
In a welcome address, the Managing Director of Kacstone Records, Wenawome Duriyem Aborah, in a speech read by Raymond Adda, described the gathering as a significant step towards safeguarding the identity of the Kasena people. Mr. Aborah revealed that the initiative forms part of a broader effort to revive the language through education, media, and music.
“We brought you all today to share ideas, mobilize stakeholders, and develop strategies to preserve and promote our language… I urge you all to take pride in our language. Let us work together to promote and preserve it for ourselves and for future generations,” he stated.
He further disclosed that Kacstone Records has already supported the distribution of Kasem learning materials to schools across the Kasena-Nankana area and beyond, including institutions in Burkina Faso.
According to him, the organisation also partnered with a local radio station to air a cultural programme titled “Dapala Banga Lara,” aimed at documenting and promoting Kassena traditions.
A prominent Kasem language promoter and author, Joseph Nabaarese Aloa, emphasized the importance of language as a tool of identity and cultural expression.
“Languages are our identity. They show who we are. Our culture, our thoughts, our worldview—everything is expressed in our language,” he noted.
He warned that the language is increasingly being “adulterated,” particularly in media spaces, stressing the need for conscious efforts to preserve its purity.
“The way a man will speak the language today is not really the best… If we don’t express ourselves well in the language, that is what our young ones are going to learn,” he said.
Mr. Aloa also highlighted the role of media and music in shaping language use, urging practitioners to be deliberate in their communication.
“Whatever comes out of the media is what the public is going to use. So if the language is not properly used in the media space, that is what the general public is going to take,” he explained.
Touching on challenges, he noted that many young people feel shy speaking Kasem, especially in public or in environments dominated by other languages.
“Some of us don’t want to identify ourselves… but that shouldn’t be the case. Language is what identifies us,” he added, calling on parents to teach their children the language at home.
Also speaking at the forum, music legend Michael Adangba underscored the power of music in promoting indigenous languages.
“Not Kasem alone, any other local language… the only thing that will make it go far is the social media and the traditional media. You have to push it,” he urged.
He pointed out that many musicians struggle with proper pronunciation and usage of local languages in their songs, which undermines efforts to promote them.
“You listen to the song, and you can see that the person lacks the language, not the message, but how you pronounce,” he said.
Participants at the forum are expected to deliberate on practical strategies to strengthen the use of Kasem in education, media, and creative arts, with a focus on engaging the youth and leveraging digital platforms.
A1Radioonline.com|101.1Mhz|Joshua Asaah|Navrongo
