Togo will be the guest of honor at the 15e edition of the Anoumabo Urban Music Festival (FEMUA) scheduled for April 25 to 30 in Abidjan, Côte d’Ivoire. The information was officially given by the Commissioner General of FEMUA, the Ivorian singer Salif Traoré, commonly known as A’Salfo, during a press conference held on Tuesday April 11, 2023 in Lomé. Placed under the theme ” Food security and sustainable agriculture », FEMUA 15 intends to mobilize young people to invest in agriculture, so that by 2030, the African continent can guarantee its food security.
Minister Lamadokou (right) and A’Salfo during the exchanges.
the 15the edition of the Anoumabo Urban Music Festival (FEMUA) will be held from April 25 to 30 in Abidjan, Côte d’Ivoire, around the theme: ” Food security and sustainable agriculture “. Togo, for the first time, participates as guest of honor. Justifying this choice focused on Togo, the vocal lead of the group Magic System, Salif Traoré (A’Salfo), indicated that this invitation was motivated by several factors. The first factor concerns the historical link that binds Côte d’Ivoire to Togo. ” At home in Côte d’Ivoire, it is said that everyone grew up with at least one Togolese. Because the Togolese community in Côte d’Ivoire is quite representative. It is the strongest Togolese community in the world. For me, it was a question of culturally strengthening this bond of friendship and fraternity between these two countries. “, specified Mr. Touré.
… With cultural actors and media men.
The second factor that justifies Togo’s participation in this festival is political, but also cultural. ” During the arrest of our 49 soldiers in Mali, it took the intervention of Togo for these soldiers to be released. The thanks were sent by the highest authorities of the country and the world. Knowing that in Africa, culture occupies an important place, we want, through this festival, to say, in a cultural way, thank you to President Faure Essozimna Gnassingbé who has worked, put all his strategy and wisdom into action so that their liberation is possible. The whole world intervened, it didn’t work. It took the intervention of the Togolese head of state. Togo’s invitation to FEMUA is a form of recognition to the President of the Republic and to all Togolese for their prayers and support », I explained A’Salfo.
Togo will be represented in all its cultural diversity
All aspects of Togolese culture will be honored on this occasion, including cuisine, dance, folklore, fashion, clothing, art, in short, everything that Togo holds as ancestral knowledge. According to the calendar, the day and the night of Togo will take place, on April 26th. The artist Raphaël Santrinos is appointed by Togo to represent it at the FEMUA concert. He will share the stage with more than one hundred (100) artists, including Boora and Singuila from France, Ferre Gola from the DRC, Didi B, Roseline Layo from the Ivory Coast, Baaba Maal from Senegal, Nourat the Lions from Burkina Faso , etc. In addition to the concerts, the event will be furnished with conferences, panels, exhibitions, B to B meetings, sports, fun and educational activities for children (FEMUA kids).
Minister Lamadokou surrounded by A’Salfo and Santrinos at the end of the conference.
The social as the backbone of FEMUA
According to the Commissioner General, FEMUA, since its creation in 2008, remains an unmissable meeting place for music lovers in Abidjan. From the 3e year, the organizing committee has brought added value to this festival, by making social issues its backbone. Since then, he has taken it upon himself to build either a school or a hospital for the people. This year will see the inauguration of the 10e school built in Côte d’Ivoire, to enable more than three thousand children to learn in comfortable conditions.
On behalf of the government, the Minister of Culture and Tourism, Kossi Gbényo Lamadokou, expressed his gratitude to the General Commissioner of FEMUA for having chosen Togo as the guest country of honor. He reassured of the mobilization for a better representation of Togo at this festival. An ad hoc committee, set up by the government, is hard at work for a strong mobilization of Togolese for this event. This committee works in collaboration with a team from the Togolese diaspora in Côte d’Ivoire, said Minister Lamadokou.
Komla GOKATSE
