Suriname to replicate Citi FM, Channel One TV Heritage Month initiative

The Government of Suriname in South America says it is studying Citi FM and Channel One TV’s Heritage Month celebration as part of plans to replicate the initiative in the country.

According to the Surinamese government, activities such as the Heritage Caravan and the on-air series could significantly boost the country’s tourism and hospitality industry while also helping to strengthen cultural awareness among young people.

Speaking exclusively to Citi News, Suriname’s Minister for Education, Science and Culture, Dirk Max Currie, said the media will play an integral role in promoting the planned celebration scheduled for August this year.

“Our president, Yennefer Geerlik Simons, in 2025, at her speech at the National Assembly, announced that August of every year, starting this year, will also have Heritage Month. So, when I, on Sunday, March 15, heard that Heritage Month is in March here, I said I have to speak to people to learn, so I can bring back home what they celebrate here, and maybe we can use that also in the introduction of our Heritage Month in August.

“So I think that’s very important to let the community know what is going to happen during Heritage Month. And the other thing is, during Heritage Month, people go to the office with traditional clothes.

“So I think those two things are very particular, and those I will definitely take back home. Actually, I already sent them back home to make sure that it is in line with what I call moving into the Heritage Month.”

He said the celebration would begin with activities involving schoolchildren to better understand how young people view Surinamese culture.

“So we want to use school kids in preparing for the Heritage Month since it’s our first time. We want to experience how young people think about culture and how we can improve that thinking, and what their advice is on it,” he said.

He added that the initiative would also be designed to make the celebration more tourist-friendly and generate income for the country.

“I think the culture in Suriname, in terms of making it more tourist-friendly and making it more of a creative industry, as making it something that makes money for the country. So we have to use our culture more as a tourist industry and also as one of the driving forces of the economy.

“So by having the Heritage Month, we can focus on increasing the earnings out of the hospitality industry, but also the creative industry, including the culture that we have to present,” he stated.

He also called on other countries to adopt similar heritage celebrations as a way of promoting global peace and coexistence.

“I think it’s important that we have to know where we come from. So, a part of Heritage Month is that we have to celebrate that we come from different areas and that we also need to focus on how we will move together in harmony in the country that we chose. Maybe not choose to live in, but where we live and how we will continue living in the country in harmony and peacefully.

“And that is something that can be spread around the world to bring more peace to the world. I think happiness for me is the most important thing in life. So everybody must be happy. And to be happy, you have to live in harmony with each other. And that can only be done if you’re at peace with each other,” he stated.

Heritage Month is an annual initiative by Citi FM and Channel One TV that celebrates Ghana’s rich cultural heritage, highlighting elements such as cuisine, music, dance, and traditions.

The launch of the 2026 edition on February 25 spotlighted the five pillars of Heritage Month, each brought to life through dramatic performances. Archival images of historic Ghanaian figures were displayed alongside actors dressed in traditional regalia, who delivered powerful monologues linking the country’s past to the present.

The event also unveiled a lineup of flagship activities for Heritage Month 2026, including the Heritage On-Air Series, the Heritage Caravan, and the Back to Your Village Food Festival—initiatives designed to take the celebration to communities across the country throughout March.

Now firmly established as a signature cultural observance by Citi FM and Channel One TV, Heritage Month continues to highlight Ghana’s traditions while attracting participation from cultural groups, businesses, traditional authorities, and the wider public.

This year’s edition promises an immersive nationwide journey through the history, music, cuisine, and artistry that define the Ghanaian experience.