Kacstone Record’s leads charge to preserve Kasem culture with book donation

Kacstone Record’s, as part of its Corporate Social Responsibility (CSR), has procured and donated books to promote the teaching and learning of Kassem in schools within the Kassena-Nankana Municipality and the Kassena Nankana West District of the Upper East Region.

The donation aligns with the label’s mission to preserve and promote indigenous culture and to enhance the teaching and learning of local languages in basic schools.

A total of 260 copies of the book titled ‘Kasena Nabaara Kikia’ were presented to both education directorates, with the Kassena-Nankana Municipal receiving 148 copies and the Kassena Nankana West District receiving 112 copies.

Speaking during the presentation at both directorates on Friday, November 21, Michael Adangba, the label’s sole recording artist, said local languages are losing their authenticity due to the growing habit of mixing them with foreign slangs.

“When you listen to some of our people the tonation of the language is changing, some people are trying to modernize it but it should not be that way.”

He emphasised that teaching in local languages at the basic level helps students better understand instructions from their teachers.

Managing Director of Kacstone Record’s, Wenawome Duriyem Aborah, also urged African ethnic groups to invest in promoting the study of their languages, warning that many African languages risk extinction.

“We are calling on people interested in promoting our cultural heritage to invest in some of these things to help prevent our identity from begin lost, because our identity has been taken away we have to come back to the basics such as presenting the young ones with learning materials.”

Author of the book, Joseph Aloa Nabraarese, welcomed the intervention by Kacstone, stating it would help revive the study of Kassem in schools, which has suffered a significant decline in recent years.

“The teaching of our mother tongue is dying out, learners are not doing well and the teachers are complaining of not been resourced well, because of that the teaching of Kassem language is not going well.”

He noted that his motivation for authoring the book was driven by a desire to help young learners connect to their roots through knowledge of their history.

Kassena-Nankana Municipal Education Director, Thomas Kanlisi, described the support as timely, noting that it aligns with government’s directive requiring basic schools to teach Ghanaian languages from lower grade levels.

“This book will support the teaching an learning of Kassem in our schools, Kassem is an examinable subject at BECE and Senior High School levels, the book will assist us in getting our children develop interest in the language.” Kanlisi said.

In the Kassena Nankana West District, District Education Director, Mary Magdalene Wompakea, pledged that the directorate would ensure the books are properly used for the benefit of learners and teachers. She recalled that teachers previously depended solely on knowledge gained during training because they lacked textbooks to guide instruction.

The 156-page book introduces readers to Kasena customs and institutions, covering topics such as marriage, the chieftaincy institution, folklore, family life, funeral rites and more.

Meanwhile, Kacstone Record’s also announced that, as part of efforts to preserve and promote cultural identity, it will host a free musical festival dubbed Adangba Legacy Music Fest on December 21, 2025, in Paga. The event aims to unite communities and showcase authentic African music.

Mike 105.3FM | Navrongo | Alexander Bombande