The West Africa Music and Arts Festival (WAMAFEST) has officially launched in Accra, Ghana, bringing together music industry professionals and stakeholders from across West Africa. This exciting festival will celebrate the region’s rich cultural heritage and global influence, culminating in a grand concert at the University of Ghana on Saturday, June 22.
Ghana, hosting WAMAFEST for the first time, adds this vibrant event to its growing list of international arts festivals, including the Chale Wote Street Art Festival, AfroFuture, and the Black Star Line Festival. The CEO of the Ghana Tourism Authority, Akwasi Agyeman, highlighted the importance of collaboration among West African countries to preserve and promote their cultural heritage through music, stating that “Music knows no borders, and neither should our efforts to protect our heritage.”
Prof Jasmine Young, Director of the Warner Music Blavatnik Center for Music Business at Howard University, emphasized the significance of sustaining the festival for future generations, calling WAMAFEST an investment in our cultural future. In addition to the festival, a Juneteenth Parade will celebrate freedom and promote tourism and economic development in the subregion.
The West Africa Music and Arts Festival is part of the “Beyond the Return” campaign, a 10-year successor to the “Year of Return” campaign in 2019, which commemorated the 400th anniversary of the arrival of enslaved Africans in Jamestown, Virginia, USA. The launch event was attended by notable personalities, including Ghana’s Minister for Tourism, Arts, and Culture, Andrew Agyapa Mercer; Second Lady, Samira Bawumia; and representatives from various West African countries.
With the stage set, WAMAFEST promises to be a fusion of cultural pride and unity, resonating far beyond West Africa. This festival is sure to be an unforgettable celebration of music and art in the heart of Accra.
