West Africa Music and Arts Festival Kicks Off in Accra
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- June 22, 2024
Music lovers and art enthusiasts in Ghana rejoice! The highly anticipated West Africa Music and Arts Festival (WAMAFest) has officially launched in Accra, Ghana’s vibrant capital city.
This groundbreaking four-day event, which kicked off from June 19th, at Accra’s Kwame Nkrumah Memorial Park, promises an exhilarating exploration of West Africa’s rich cultural heritage and its undeniable influence on the global stage. It will conclude on Saturday, June 22, with a spectacular concert at the University of Ghana.
Hosting WAMAFEST for the first time, Ghana adds this vibrant event to its growing list of international arts festivals, including the Chale Wote Street Art Festival, AfroFuture, and the Black Star Line Festival.
Adding to the excitement of the festival, a Juneteenth Parade is said to take place over the weekend, celebrating freedom and promoting tourism and economic development in the subregion.
WAMAFest is more than just entertainment; it’s a cultural exchange. The festival coincides with the “Beyond the Return” campaign, a decade-long initiative aimed at strengthening ties between the African diaspora and the continent. WAMAFest provides a platform for celebrating this connection and fostering a sense of pride in West African culture.
The launch saw a distinguished gathering that included Ghana’s Minister for Tourism, Arts, and Culture, Andrew Agyapa Mercer, Ghana’s Second Lady Samira Bawumia, CEO of the Ghana Tourism Authority, Akwasi Agyeman, along with delegates from various West African countries.
Also in attendance were officials from Global A&R Warner Recorded Music, MUSIGA President Bessa Simons, HipHopPreneur and Marketing Strategist Professor Jasmine Young, alongside numerous music executives and artists such as Efya, Reggie Rockstone, and Trigmatic.
This inaugural event is set to attract international attention. The presence of global music giant Warner Music as a partner signifies the festival’s potential to become a major player in the global music scene. WAMAFest offers a unique opportunity for international audiences to discover the rich tapestry of West African music and art.
