ALGERIA: Country hosts festival promoting African culture in Algiers

Record ID: 573586

  • Title: ALGERIA: Country hosts festival promoting African culture in Algiers
  • Date: 5th July 2009
  • Summary: (SOUNDBITE) (Arabic) ALGERIAN MINISTER OF CULTURE, KHALIDA TOUMI, SAYING: "This is the most important festival in the world. Nowhere else can you find at the same place and at the same time 8,000 participants in a festival composed of everything relating to culture. Nowhere. Africa is capable of doing this, so God Bless it [Africa], God willing, and God Bless Algeria."
  • Embargoed: 20th July 2009 13:00
  • Keywords:
  • Location: Algeria
  • Country: Algeria
  • Topics: Entertainment
  • Reuters ID: LVAAQCEDFYAD7TQLAHHVIVY7T0XW
  • Story Text: Algeria hosts, "Africa: Revival and Rebirth" a pan-African festival featuring more than 8,000 participants from Africa.
    Algeria kicked-off a large gathering of participants, estimated at 8,000 people, on Saturday (July 4) for the opening of the Second Pan-African Cultural Festival in Algiers.
    The last time the country hosted the first version of this event was almost 40 years ago, a time where most of its current participants were struggling for independence.
    The festival, which coincides with Algerian Independence Day on July 5, is running under the theme, "Africa: Revival and Rebirth" and hopes to revive the people's spirit following more than a decade of civil strife during which at least 200,000 people died.
    One official, Zouaoui Benamadi, the head of communication for the event said Algeria needs to heal after years of bloodshed.
    OPEC member Algeria also hopes to use Panaf 2009 as an opportunity to boost its diplomatic role in Africa.
    Some figures said up to 8,000 artists representing 48 countries including the United States and Brazil, which are attending as special guests, are slated to participate in Panaf 2009, which will be held in Algiers from July 5th-20th, 2009.
    Other countries slated to take part include those with a large population of african immigrants, such as Cuba and Venezuela.
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