WAMAfest, a premier event celebrating West African music, art, and culture, has announced its speaker lineup and program for the upcoming four-day event.
Co-founder Prof Jasmine Young, a “HipHopPreneur” and Marketing Strategist, along with Kofi Atta Kakra Kusi from GTA, shared the exciting details in a recent interview.
The inaugural edition of WAMAfest is scheduled to take place from June 19th to 22nd, 2023.
The event will feature a panel discussion on the “History of West African Music and its Global Contribution,” moderated by Andy Dosty from Ghana.
The panelists will include Daddy Bosco, a musician and member of MUSIGA from Ghana, Prosper Akuegnon GOGOYI, President of the Beninese Music Council and Producer from Benin, and Eddie Lawani, an Entertainment Business Entrepreneur from Nigeria.
Bobby Branson, a Lawyer from Ghana, will lead a session on “Intellectual Property Rights and Copyrights in Arts.”
Additionally, Austin Palmer, the CEEK Director of Partnerships from the USA, will join other industry experts for a discussion on “Where is the Money?”
The Festival will kick off with an opening soirée at the Kwame Nkrumah Memorial Park in Accra.
Followed by panel discussions at the Labadi Beach Hotel covering various aspects of the arts, including monetization, sound, and production, streaming and revenue, history of West African music, intellectual property, and more.
Representatives from West Africa, the Registrar General’s Department, and legal experts will also be in attendance.
The Area Codes concert, powered by YFM, will be held at the University of Ghana Legon as part of a talent search initiative to discover new artists. Upcoming talents will have the opportunity to share the stage with renowned musicians.
Attendees can look forward to networking opportunities, cultural celebrations, and learning experiences throughout the event.
A parade commemorating Juneteenth, a significant event in Black American history, will be held from the Dubois Centre followed by a Festival at the Accra Tourist Information Centre featuring speakers, dignitaries, spoken word performances, and more.
The African American Association of Ghana organizes the Juneteenth celebration.
WAMAfest promises to be an unforgettable experience with masterclasses, an Area Codes Concert, and a grand durbar.
Jasmine Young is optimistic that this event will attract visitors to Ghana in June, expanding the country’s tourism scope beyond the “Year of Return” and “Beyond the Return” initiatives.
