Jamaican reggae singer Tarrus Riley and saxophonist Dean Fraser have been invited as special guests to perform at the World Festival of Black Arts and Culture.
The artistes will perform alongside musician Monty Alexander.
In a release to the media, Riley said he was looking forward to performing at the festival. Said Riley, ‘Just going to Africa is a feeling that I can’t find words for, and to sing for the people will definitely be an honour and my pleasure’.
The World Festival of Black Arts and Culture takes place in Dakar, Senegal. Riley performs on December 19. This will be the third staging of the festival.
The World Festival of Black Arts and Cultures, an international event which has been entrusted by the African Union to his Excellency Abdoulaye Wade, President of the Republic of Senegal.
Initiated by President Léopold Sédar Senghor, the first edition of the World Festival of Black Arts and Cultures was held in Dakar in 1966. The first Festival brought together people from all generations and disciplines in order to make the rest of the world aware of the struggle and persistence of Black peoples in the face of colonization. In 1977, Nigeria hosted the second edition.
The 2010 Festival conveys a new vision of Africa as free, proud, creative and optimistic.
