Kunle Adewale
The first African Arts and Culture Festival being organised by AFRIKFEST Las Vegas INC will take place at the Craig Ranch Regional Park in Las Vegas Nevada, USA from 13-14th April 2018. The two-day event will feature exhibition of African culture, dances by different African cultural groups, exhibition of African wears and herbal products among others. The event will also honour African leaders who have distinguished themselves in tourism and in the promotion of African arts and culture.
AFRIKFEST is a community socio-cultural organisation working for cohesion of cultural heritage among African communities in USA, Africa and around the world. Membership is drawn from African communities resident in Las Vegas such as Nigerians, Ghanaians, Ethiopians, and Kenyans.
AFRIKFEST is led by Nigerian duo of Christopher Usigbe and Chikelu Favour.
Addressing newsmen in Abuja, the coordinator of AFRIKFEST Las Vegas INC, Deacon Darlington Okpebhobo Ray stated that the event was designed to change the narrative of negative perception about Africa and Africans by the western media.
The need to tell the true story of Africa by Africans using different cultural mechanisms to drive home the message informed the decision to stage the event. Also, it is equally aimed to inculcate the African cultural values in the minds of the new generations residing outside the continent of Africa.
He added that the platform would bridge the gap for African Americans who desire to have a realistic link to their roots. “There will be diverse cultural display and exhibition from Nigeria, Ghana, South Africa, Zimbabwe, Uganda and other parts of Africa,” Okpebhobo said.
The cultural festival will be a daylong event with activities like multicultural folk music, cultural dances and folktales where the likes of renowned Nigeria actor, JImi Solanke, will be performing. The event will afford participants opportunity to share business ideas with global cultural stakeholders.
“This very important festival will be celebrated with so much fun and high expectation by different cultural and religious background for others nation’s awareness, said Okpebhobo.
