The President of The Republic of The Gambia, His Excellency Adama Barrow has assured of his support to the 6th edition of the International Soninke Festival - known by its French acronym FISO - that will take place from the 20th to 24th February 2020 in The Gambia.
The President made this assurance at the State House in Banjul on Thursday, 26th December 2019 during an audience with members of the organising committee of “FISO Gambia 2020” led by its president Muhammed Musa Njie. Honourable Muhammed Magassy is the National Programmes Coordinator while Honourable Papa Njie, Muhammed Jagana and Prince Bubacarr Aminata Sankanu serve as heads of Logistics, Finance and Scientific Units in respective order.
The proposed venue is the Friendship Hostel/Teranga Hall and related facilities of the Independence Stadium in Bakau.
The cultural festival intends to bring together Soninkes and peoples of Soninke descent from across the globe including linguists, artists, actors, musicians, craftsmen/women and exhibitors, as well as religious and traditional leaders in a bid to revive our rich cultural norms and values. It also aims to celebrate social cohesion and common bonding between Sarahullehs and all other non-Sarahulleh people in and out of The Gambia, in line with the ideals of global peace, cultural tourism and solidarity.
On Saturday, 21st December 2019, FISO Gambia 2020 was launched by the Director General of the National Centre for Arts and Culture (NCAC) Hassoum Ceesay at the Paradise Suites Hotel and it was well attended by stakeholders at home and in the Diaspora.
The four-day event attracted over 2,000 guests and cultural enthusiasts from The Gambia, Senegal, Mali, Mauretania, Guinea Bissau, Guinea Conakry, Sierra Leone, Angola, France, USA, Spain, Germany, UK and other places.
The bi-annual cultural festival was initiated by the Association for the Promotion of Soninke Language and Culture (APS) in France to not just validate relevant Sarahulleh values but to also celebrate the commonalities of person of greater Mandeng and African heritage on the continent and the Diaspora.
By Prince Bubacarr Aminata Sankannu
Senior Information Officer
