By: Mohamed Jalloh
The Minister of Tourism and Culture Dr Memunatu Pratt has on Thursday 8th December 2022 informed journalists in respect of the first ever Africaribbean festival to be hosted in Freetown from the 28 December 2022 to the 2nd January 2023.
Dr Pratt said for tourism it looks like this is God`s time for Sierra Leone with the hosting of the maiden Africaribbean festival in Sierra Leone and noted that it is time for the country to show case its culture, arts, heritage, values, music, films, dance and food to the visitors who will grace the carnival.
“It is time to highlight the culture of Sierra Leone because a country`s DNA is in its culture”, Madam Pratt disclosed.
She said many counties around the world are trying to organize festivals but that hasn`t been the case in Africa as according to her, the Africaribbean festival to be hosted in Sierra Leone is the first of its kind in the entire West African sub region.
The Minister of Tourism highlighted the strong bond between Africans and Caribbean people dating back to the days of slavery when many freed slaves from the Caribbean were resettled in Sierra Leone and further pointing out the similarities between the two cultures.
Madam Pratt revealed that the activities of the festival will take place at the Lumley/Aberdeen beach and locations such as the Radisson Blu garden and Kallon carpark will be utilized for several events of the carnival.
Mr Danny Labour one of the organizers of the Africaribbean festival through a video message said the event will increase touristic inflow and will further boost economic activities.
Mr Labour said the festival will have huge economic impact on petty traders, taxi drivers, Keke riders, Okada riders, hotel and restaurant owners, club owners, rentals and many more.
“The six days festival will show case the Caribbean culture to Sierra Leoneans and at the same display the Sierra Leonean culture to the Caribbean visitors”,Mr Labour pointed out.
He disclosed that the event is segmented in to eight different activities beginning with the Ankara pool party that will showcase the African swimmers, an all-night beach party, pajamas party, lantern meet carnival party on new year’s day, whiles further noting that works of Sierra Leonean musician Ebenezer Calendar will be displayed.
He revealed that on New Year’s Day the carnival will serve as a platform for Sierra Leonean artists to mingle and perform alongside Caribbean artists who will perform the Soca dance and music.
On the Sierra Leonean side, Mr Labour said the Bubu music and dance will be on display, alongside local attires and outfits, and similarly Caribbean carnival dress code and instruments will also be exhibited.
Mr Josephus Raymond Alie, the representative from Eminence Africa which is an entertainment company and co-organizers of the Africaribbean event said part of their mandate is to come up with fruitful collaborations that are mutually beneficial.
He stated that the AfriCaribbean festival will be the biggest in Africa and the first of its kind because they have invested their time, energy and resources to make the event a reality.
Mr Alie concluded by noting that the event will be an epoch making event and it will give Sierra Leone the opportunity to show case what it possesses as a nation and went further to urge Sierra Leoneans to attend the event and enjoy themselves.