The Musicians Union of Ghana (MUSIGA), has thrown its weight behind the This is Africa Festival, Amsterdam 2020 and said the event would be a milestone to emphasise the significant contributions of African artists and cultural practitioners to the growth and development of the continent.
In a message to the festival organisers at the media launch of the event at the Hilton Hotel in The Hague, Netherlands, the acting MUSIGA president Mr. Bessa Simons, confirmed the union’s partnership with the festival and promised their massive participation.
The This is Africa, Amsterdam 2020 Festival is a global exposition of African music, dance, food, comedy and fashion. It is aimed primarily at bringing together arts, entertainment and tourism players from the continent as well as people of African descent to network and help promote the unity and progress of the continent.
The International Relations Director of the festival, Nana Yaw Osei-Darkwa, delivered the keynote address on behalf of organisers, Showbiz Africa and the PANAFEST Foundation.
He pointed out that the festival was a proactive step to take Africa’s culture to the doorstep of the global community to instigate traffic to the continent instead of the usual practice of sitting back and hoping the world would come to the continent.
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“The project seeks to create a unique window each year in a different city, for the rest of world to engage Africa through culture and tourism and to compliment the great effort of the Pan African Historical Festival (PANAFEST) held bi-annually to direct investment to the motherland,” he said.
He stated that the first set of headline artistes for the festival would be revealed on February 2, 2020 to be followed by media engagements in Nigeria, Burundi, Kenya, and Ethiopia before May 2020.
Over 10,000 Africans and friends of Africa are expected to attend the two-festival which kicks off on July 3 with the main open-air event on July 4 and will feature over 100 top stars.
The media launch had several Heads of Missions and Ambassadors of African countries in the Netherlands in attendance. They included Ghana’s Ambassador to the Netherlands H.E Sophia Horner-Sam and Minister/Deputy Head of Mission, Mr. M.H Idris.
Also present were envoys from Burundi, Sudan, Morocco, and Senegal as well as the Asantefuohene of The Hague, Onipamu Osei Kuffour and his entourage.
The This is Africa Festival, Amsterdam 2020 is in partnership with Safari Foundation and the Hague African Festival.
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