By Henry Kargbo
The United Nations Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organization has on Wednesday 26 April, 2023, celebrated World Poetry Day with pupils at the Murray Deen Preparatory School Aberdeen, in the West of Freetown.
In his statement, the Secretary General of UNESCO, Mohamed Kamanda outlined purpose of celebrating World Poetry Day which was to support linguistic diversity through poetic works.
He disclosed that World Poetry Day is set aside to increase opportunities for endangered languages to be heard.
Kamanda added that, World Poetry Day is the occasion marked to honour poets, revive old tradition of poetry recitals, the culture of promote reading, writing and teaching of poems.
He said that world poetry day is observed every year to promote the aforementioned disciplines as well as to foster the convergence between poetry and other genres.
He furthered that poetry is the essence of literature which leads to cultural development, pointing out that poetry day activities can lead to a great resurgence in reading and writing poetry.
“I will rise of budding poets and poetry has a rhythm which touches the soul of a person like music, as poetry inspires people.
He noted that Sierra Leone, poetry day celebration has not been accelerated but is worthwhile to celebrate and honour poets and poetry.
Kamanda told the participants that every child can enjoys if it is in simple and lucid language and that Sierra Leonean school students requires much more guidance and help in understanding and appreciating the value of poems.
He went on to say that poetry is a skill, which moves us still, he stated.
The Programme Officer, Whiston Mella Jalloh, in his remarks said World Poetry Day was once inventing by UNESCO and is celebrated on 21st March every year, but this year’s celebration was delayed because they cannot do it without funds, so they have to be planned out.
He said. UNESCO marked this during its 30th General Meeting held in Paris in 1999.
Mr Whiston added that the aim is support diversity language.
According to him poetry could be inculcated from the very beginning of a person’s life, which is childhood.
