African Drum Festival holds April 25 in Ogun

The fourth
edition of African Drum Festival will take place from April 25 to April 27,
2019 in Abeokuta, Ogun State.

Governor Ibikunle Amosun

The
Chairman, African Drum Festival Local Organising Committee and Deputy Governor
of Ogun State, Chief (Mrs.) Yetunde Onanuga, disclosed this at a world press
conference addressed on Tuesday in Abeokuta.

She said
this year’s festival, which will hold at the 10,000 capacity amphitheatre at
Oke-Ilewo, Abeokuta, will be a rallying point for Africans to propagate culture,
while it will place Ogun State on the world map of culture.

According to
her, 23 troupes from 21 African countries, 18 state troupes from Nigeria and
independent participants have confirmed their attendance. Other countries
outside Africa, such as United Kingdom, China, Trinidad and Tobago, and France
are also expected to participate in the 3-day festival.

Mrs. Onanuga
commended Governor Ibikunle Amosun for his vision, and nurturing the festival
to world standard.

In his
remark, Governor Amosun, stated that the festival has recorded tremendous success
since it began in 2016, and assured that the 2019 edition of the festival will
be bigger and better.

The governor
said that in fulfillment of his promise last year, this year’s edition will take
place in the new abode, which is the amphitheatre. He added that due to his intervention, and in
complementing the efforts of the Local Organising Committee, 26 states will
eventually participate in the festival.

He likened
the African Drum Festival to Rio de Janeiro Festival in Brazil which has
assumed world status.

As part of
activities lined up for the festival, there will be fashion parade, cultural
train ride from Lagos to Abeokuta, official launch of Adire logo, celebration
of musical icons such as; Late Fela Anikulapo Kuti, Late Haruna Ishola, Chief
Ebenezer Obey among others.

Amosun
further disclosed that the festival, which will promote world tourism, will
attract international media team from China, France and United Kingdom, and
will afford the state the opportunity to exhibit its cultural activities.

The outgoing
governor, however, used the occasion to inform the people of the state that he
will work and commission projects till his last day in office.