Back and Next - Back and NextGambia braces up for WFBA
Tuesday, December 23, 2008
As preparations for the third edition of World Festival of Black Arts (WFBA) otherwise called FESMAN 2009 is scheduled to take place in Dakar, Senegal from 1st to 31st December 2009,The Gambia has established a National Commission on the programme.
The Gambia national commission of the world Festival of Black Arts was established through the Department of state for Tourism and Culture. As the name suggested, this department is the Custodian of The Gambian traditional cultural norms and values and also responsible for tourism and related affairs.
The Gambia National Commission comprises of different institutions and individual stakeholders in the promotion, development and preservation of the spirit of arts and culture .
According to the information relayed to the arts and culture anchorman from the organising committee of the Gambia national committee on WFBA stated that, under the distinguished and dynamic leadership of secretary of state for tourism and culture Honourable Nancy Njie” , who has been appointed Ambassador of goodwill of WFBA, members of the national commission were carefully selected and drawn from all aspects of life such as Intellectuals, artists; journalists, historians, promoters , executives among others..
The information also stated that some of the selected members had participated in the past editions of the world Festival of Black Arts (WFBA) and the national Commission was scheduled to be officially launched on 20th December 2008, which is expected to be grace by high power delegation from the sister republic of Senegal.
The Gambia national Commission is aim among other things to conduct research, mobilise and present The Gambia’s unique culture both tangible and intangible, movable and immovable as part of our contribution towards successful celebration of the 3rd edition of the world Festival of Black Arts (WFBA). To work with media out lets in the Gambia and others both print and electronic in an efforts to sensitise the general public including the Gambia, Africa and the world at large.
To identify from intellectual and academic circuit The Gambia’s participation in the festival and to prepare the Gambia’s hosting of the mini festival on 20th December 2008,which will mark the formal launching of national commission on WFBA and to work with international festival commission and Secretariat through the Department of State for Tourism and Culture for funding assistance for the Gambia’s to participate in the event.
The national commission is also geared towards evaluating at the end of WFBA. The Gambia’s involvement and participation including the impacts made and benefits gained to perform such task as may be deemed necessary by the department of state for tourism and culture in order to ensure a successful participation of the Gambia at the WFBA the dispatched concluded..
Lets have a departure from the establishment of the Gambia national commission of the world Festival of Black arts and have a roots and branch examination of the WFBA. The first edition of World Festival of Black Arts was held in Dakar, Senegal on 24th April 1966. It was organised , coordinated by the late Leopold Sedat Senghore former president of Senegal.. The theme of this event was “The significance of Black Art in the life of the people and for the people”.
The second edition was held in Lagos and Kaduna cities in the federal republic of Nigeria from 25th January to 12th February 1977 with the theme “Black Civilisation and education’ This forth coming third edition of WFBA with the theme “African Renaissance”, scheduled to take place in Dakar, Senegal, came through the invitation of His Excellency President Abdoulie Wade in accordance with the mandate of the conference of African ministers of Culture ,held in Dakar in 1980.
The African ministers of Culture tasked themselves at the said conference that the republic of Senegal will be hosting from 1st to 31st December 2009 in Senegal as the land of Vocation, creativity and dialogue will play host to many distinguish intellectuals, academics, artists, journalists and other professionals from both Africa and beyond.
The Senegalese president has tasked himself with enthusiastic and total involvement in the preoccupation of the black world in the 21st century. President Abdoulie Wade believed that, unification of Africa and creation of solid links with the Diaspora in a way done by predecessors in the likes of William Dubois, Langston Hughes,Cheikh Anta Diop, Kwame Nkrumah among others is a precondition for development of Africa.
The third edition of World Festival of Black Art (WFBA), is geared towards examining the cultural heritage of the Black World in both its material and immaterial format to reaffirm the role of artists and intellectuals in the African Renaissance.
To promote better protection and wider distribution of artistic and cultural works of black world, to celebrate the intellectual artistic, literal and creativeness of creators of Africa and the Diaspora and to also offer conditions of expression to the creative artists of the black world which will encourage them to unite and help them to make their contribution towards implementation of the New Partnership for African Development (NEPAD) among other aims and objectives.
The third edition of WFBA is expected to be characterised by numerous activities and programmes such as symposium on the theme of the event “Africa Renaissance”, performances such as dance beauty pageant, exhibitions to just name but a few. Disciplines such as the world of music, paintings, photography, Sculpture design handicrafts are expected to take centre stage at the world Festival of Black Art (WFBA) and the event will be chaired by heads of committees from various subjects.
Over 2 to 3 million people including 2000 journalists from both print and electronic media are expected to attend the forth coming 1st to 31st December 2009 WFBA in Dakar, Senegal.. Being a major actor in the WFBA or FESMAN 2009, either by associating yourself or being physically present you will contribute to the reunion of black Africa and the world at large.
As stated in the previous editions of this column, the term culture means the belief, customs values, ideas that are shared and accepted by people in a particular society. On the other hand, arts is the human creative skills ,application of it or exhibition of it. People the world over are most often preoccupied with a sense of belonging or relating to a particular society and its way of life. The Gambia is blessed with peace-loving, hospitable and tolerant people. Culture played and continue to play an important role in our daily life. Its importance cannot be overemphasised.
Culture is in most cases viewed as an identity card of an individual. Anyone without a feeling of belonging to any form of culture would be like a tree without roots in order to have a supportive life on this planet.
Like the International roots home coming festival, the Kanilai International cultural festival and many other traditional cultural festivals through out the length and breadth of Africa and the world at large, the World festival of Black Arts (WFBA) are meant to promote, develop and preserved the spirit of arts and culture, especially our rich traditional cultural norms and values.
The biennial international roots home coming festival is organised by the department of state for Tourism and Culture in collaboration with the National Centre for Arts and Culture (NCAC) ,the Gambia Tourism Authority (GTA) and other stakeholders in the development, promotion and preservation of the spirit of tourism and culture in The Gambia, Africa and the world at large.
The Kanilai international cultural festival is organised and coordinated by president Jammeh. These events are gaining international recognition and brought together participants from within and beyond Africa. These are dubed stages for crude and primitive venues for extensive and interactive exhibitions of a one time great sources of pride to all Africans and African descent. These are viewed as the venues for cultural revival and development.
“The Gambia international roots festival is a connecting point for Africans and African descents through out the world. It served as a forum for pan Africanism and an opportune moment for reflecting on the horrors of slavery and hardship our grand parents went through.”, said Mr and Mrs Ezekwuecke,Nigerian couple based in the USA . The couple made these remarks in an exclusive chat with the Arts and Culture anchorman during their visit to the Gambia on the last edition of the biennial international roots festival from 30th May to 7th June 2008.
‘We do hoped that WFBA will live to achieve its aims and objectives like any other arts and culture programmes, especially its promotion, development and preservation, they concluded.
The Gambia national commission of the world Festival of Black Arts was established through the Department of state for Tourism and Culture. As the name suggested, this department is the Custodian of The Gambian traditional cultural norms and values and also responsible for tourism and related affairs.
The Gambia National Commission comprises of different institutions and individual stakeholders in the promotion, development and preservation of the spirit of arts and culture .
According to the information relayed to the arts and culture anchorman from the organising committee of the Gambia national committee on WFBA stated that, under the distinguished and dynamic leadership of secretary of state for tourism and culture Honourable Nancy Njie” , who has been appointed Ambassador of goodwill of WFBA, members of the national commission were carefully selected and drawn from all aspects of life such as Intellectuals, artists; journalists, historians, promoters , executives among others..
The information also stated that some of the selected members had participated in the past editions of the world Festival of Black Arts (WFBA) and the national Commission was scheduled to be officially launched on 20th December 2008, which is expected to be grace by high power delegation from the sister republic of Senegal.
The Gambia national Commission is aim among other things to conduct research, mobilise and present The Gambia’s unique culture both tangible and intangible, movable and immovable as part of our contribution towards successful celebration of the 3rd edition of the world Festival of Black Arts (WFBA). To work with media out lets in the Gambia and others both print and electronic in an efforts to sensitise the general public including the Gambia, Africa and the world at large.
To identify from intellectual and academic circuit The Gambia’s participation in the festival and to prepare the Gambia’s hosting of the mini festival on 20th December 2008,which will mark the formal launching of national commission on WFBA and to work with international festival commission and Secretariat through the Department of State for Tourism and Culture for funding assistance for the Gambia’s to participate in the event.
The national commission is also geared towards evaluating at the end of WFBA. The Gambia’s involvement and participation including the impacts made and benefits gained to perform such task as may be deemed necessary by the department of state for tourism and culture in order to ensure a successful participation of the Gambia at the WFBA the dispatched concluded..
Lets have a departure from the establishment of the Gambia national commission of the world Festival of Black arts and have a roots and branch examination of the WFBA. The first edition of World Festival of Black Arts was held in Dakar, Senegal on 24th April 1966. It was organised , coordinated by the late Leopold Sedat Senghore former president of Senegal.. The theme of this event was “The significance of Black Art in the life of the people and for the people”.
The second edition was held in Lagos and Kaduna cities in the federal republic of Nigeria from 25th January to 12th February 1977 with the theme “Black Civilisation and education’ This forth coming third edition of WFBA with the theme “African Renaissance”, scheduled to take place in Dakar, Senegal, came through the invitation of His Excellency President Abdoulie Wade in accordance with the mandate of the conference of African ministers of Culture ,held in Dakar in 1980.
The African ministers of Culture tasked themselves at the said conference that the republic of Senegal will be hosting from 1st to 31st December 2009 in Senegal as the land of Vocation, creativity and dialogue will play host to many distinguish intellectuals, academics, artists, journalists and other professionals from both Africa and beyond.
The Senegalese president has tasked himself with enthusiastic and total involvement in the preoccupation of the black world in the 21st century. President Abdoulie Wade believed that, unification of Africa and creation of solid links with the Diaspora in a way done by predecessors in the likes of William Dubois, Langston Hughes,Cheikh Anta Diop, Kwame Nkrumah among others is a precondition for development of Africa.
The third edition of World Festival of Black Art (WFBA), is geared towards examining the cultural heritage of the Black World in both its material and immaterial format to reaffirm the role of artists and intellectuals in the African Renaissance.
To promote better protection and wider distribution of artistic and cultural works of black world, to celebrate the intellectual artistic, literal and creativeness of creators of Africa and the Diaspora and to also offer conditions of expression to the creative artists of the black world which will encourage them to unite and help them to make their contribution towards implementation of the New Partnership for African Development (NEPAD) among other aims and objectives.
The third edition of WFBA is expected to be characterised by numerous activities and programmes such as symposium on the theme of the event “Africa Renaissance”, performances such as dance beauty pageant, exhibitions to just name but a few. Disciplines such as the world of music, paintings, photography, Sculpture design handicrafts are expected to take centre stage at the world Festival of Black Art (WFBA) and the event will be chaired by heads of committees from various subjects.
Over 2 to 3 million people including 2000 journalists from both print and electronic media are expected to attend the forth coming 1st to 31st December 2009 WFBA in Dakar, Senegal.. Being a major actor in the WFBA or FESMAN 2009, either by associating yourself or being physically present you will contribute to the reunion of black Africa and the world at large.
As stated in the previous editions of this column, the term culture means the belief, customs values, ideas that are shared and accepted by people in a particular society. On the other hand, arts is the human creative skills ,application of it or exhibition of it. People the world over are most often preoccupied with a sense of belonging or relating to a particular society and its way of life. The Gambia is blessed with peace-loving, hospitable and tolerant people. Culture played and continue to play an important role in our daily life. Its importance cannot be overemphasised.
Culture is in most cases viewed as an identity card of an individual. Anyone without a feeling of belonging to any form of culture would be like a tree without roots in order to have a supportive life on this planet.
Like the International roots home coming festival, the Kanilai International cultural festival and many other traditional cultural festivals through out the length and breadth of Africa and the world at large, the World festival of Black Arts (WFBA) are meant to promote, develop and preserved the spirit of arts and culture, especially our rich traditional cultural norms and values.
The biennial international roots home coming festival is organised by the department of state for Tourism and Culture in collaboration with the National Centre for Arts and Culture (NCAC) ,the Gambia Tourism Authority (GTA) and other stakeholders in the development, promotion and preservation of the spirit of tourism and culture in The Gambia, Africa and the world at large.
The Kanilai international cultural festival is organised and coordinated by president Jammeh. These events are gaining international recognition and brought together participants from within and beyond Africa. These are dubed stages for crude and primitive venues for extensive and interactive exhibitions of a one time great sources of pride to all Africans and African descent. These are viewed as the venues for cultural revival and development.
“The Gambia international roots festival is a connecting point for Africans and African descents through out the world. It served as a forum for pan Africanism and an opportune moment for reflecting on the horrors of slavery and hardship our grand parents went through.”, said Mr and Mrs Ezekwuecke,Nigerian couple based in the USA . The couple made these remarks in an exclusive chat with the Arts and Culture anchorman during their visit to the Gambia on the last edition of the biennial international roots festival from 30th May to 7th June 2008.
‘We do hoped that WFBA will live to achieve its aims and objectives like any other arts and culture programmes, especially its promotion, development and preservation, they concluded.
Author: By Sanna Jawara
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