Gambian Embassy in Belgium Hosts Maiden West Africa Day

The maiden edition of West African Ambassadors’ Cultural Day was held on July 27th, at the gardens of the Embassy of the Republic of The Gambia in Brussels, Belgium. High-level dignitaries, including several African Ambassadors in Belgium and other guests, attended the event. The culturally-focused event featured traditional musical performances by musical groups from Burkina Faso and Guinea Bissau, followed by a rendition of cultural music from all West African countries and displays of West African dishes. Welcoming the guests to the event, Ambassador Pa Musa Jobarteh dwelt on the significance of the event in bringing together the members of the West African Community under one roof to display shared history and culture as well as to promote unity. “Through this cultural day, we hope to display our rich heritage and traditions, unity, strength, and the shared aspirations of our region and peoples. Each culture represented here shall showcase its uniqueness tied to our collective identity. It is my strong belief that it is through events like this that we can strengthen our bonds and deepen our mutual understanding,” The Gambian Ambassador stated. H.E. Juliette Bonkoungou, Ambassador of the Republic of Burkina Faso, who is the current rotating Chair of the West African Ambassadors in Belgium, applauded the Gambia Embassy for successfully hosting the maiden event. The Ambassador noted that “it was important to find channels to strengthen the spirit of solidarity among us, to share convivial moments, and to make people discover the cultural richness, through its different facets, the cultural richness of our countries that history and geography unite”.