Mr. Samuel Marquaye honoured by “The National Commission on Cultural” over his two decades of service in the culture and creative space of Ghana.
The National Commission on Culture (NCC) has recognized Mr. Samuel M. Marquaye as Performer Extraordinaire. In a brief ceremony at the Boardroom of the NCC, the Executive Director, Nana Otuo Owoahene Acheampong indicated that the recognition is a gesture from the Commission to celebrate the over two decades of service by Mr. Samuel Marquaye in the culture and creative space of Ghana and beyond.
A citation presented to Mr. Marquaye reads: “We celebrate your long service which spans several generations; teaching many, young and old in traditional and contemporary arts forms and leading even more to become great performers is simply inspirational and worthy of emulation. Your selflessness, your indefatigable spirit, your drive for the promotion of Ghanaian traditional and contemporary dance and your insatiable quest for the growth of music in your time has been exceptional. You are a singular difference maker in the Ghanaian cultural and creative arts industry. As a professional performer in folklore, we are blessed to have you with us. Your legacy will forever be remembered from generation to generation…”
According to Nana Owoahene, this initiative by the NCC is to identify, reward and support exceptional creative talents in Ghana and motivate artists to continue to contribute their quota towards the promotion of our culture in the global space and the development of the country. He expressed optimism that this initiative will also propel many creatives to follow the path of Mr. Marquaye in selflessly serving their communities and country and to leave a proud legacy behind.
Samuel M. Marquaye, a.k.a. Bukum Mama is a professional Ghanaian master dancer, master percussionist, choreographer and comic actor. Samuel obtained his Junior High School education at Odartey Lamptey Memorial Junior High School in Accra from 1997-1998. He is the current Band Leader of Akwaaba Ensemble – an all-female band which recently toured Germany from December 2022 to February, 2023.
Apart from managing the Akwaaba Ensemble, he has also been the lead choreographer and dancer of Shidaa Cultural Enterprise since 2002.
He has featured as a guest dancer in many national and international events such as, the opening of the 2008 African Cup of Nations Tournament in Accra; the 2013 Ghana Music Awards Night; at the welcoming ceremony of the FIFA Would Cup Trophy Tour at the Kotoka International Airport. Samuel has also performed with Peace Cultural Troupe at the Dubai Circus Fiesta, Dubai-UAE in July 2015, also at the Waterpark Eid Festival in Dubai, UAE with Peace Cultural Troupe in 2016. Other performances are, the Kwame Nkrumah Memorial 2022 in collaboration with Oswald the Poet; the 18th and 19th International Book Fair with Oswald the Poet in 2021 and 2022.
Samuel has also collaborated with other groups for cultural and artistic projects. They include the Noyam African Dance Institute, Ga Mashie Music and Dance Theatre and the Ghana Dance Ensemble.
Mr. Marquaye and his Shidaa Cultural Troupe were awarded the Best Traditional Dance Group in the Rush Energy Drink Awards in 2017. His group has also been nominated in 2020 and 2021 as the Best Dance Group for Ghana Arts and Culture Awards organized by the Ghana Arts and Culture Company in partnership with Ghana’s National Commission on Culture.
The recognition makes Mr. Marquaye an ambassador to the National Commission on Culture in the promotion of traditional and contemporary music and dance in Ghana and across the globe.
