The West Africa Music and Arts Festival (WAMAFEST) has officially been launched in Accra bringing together prominent figures in the music industry and stakeholders from across West Africa.
The festival promises to be an exciting celebration of the subregion’s rich cultural legacy and its global significance. It will conclude on Saturday, June 22, with a spectacular concert at the University of Ghana.
The launch saw a distinguished gathering that included Ghana’s Minister for Tourism, Arts, and Culture, Andrew Agyapa Mercer, Ghana’s Second Lady Samira Bawumia, CEO of the Ghana Tourism Authority, Akwasi Agyeman, along with delegates from various West African countries.
Other dignitaries present were representatives from Global A&R Warner Recorded Music, MUSIGA President Bessa Simons, HipHopPreneur and Marketing Strategist Professor Jasmine Young, and a host of music executives and artistes including Efya, Reggie Rockstone and Trigmatic.
The CEO of Ghana Tourism Authority, Akwasi Agyeman, emphasised in his introductory remarks the value of cooperation between West African nations in order to protect and promote their musical cultural legacy.
He underscored Ghana’s continuous endeavors to establish itself as a hub of meetings, incentives, conferences, and exhibitions (MICE) in West Africa, with the goal of cultivating a thriving music landscape that upholds and celebrate regional culture.
“We are committed to establishing Ghana as a central hub for cultural and music events in West Africa,” Agyeman said. “It is imperative that we work together to share our expertise and create a robust platform that not only preserves our rich cultural traditions but also propels our music onto the global stage.”
Vice President of Global A&R Warner Recorded Music, Kabiru Bello, called for increased investment to provide exposure and global opportunities to artistes.
“We need to create more avenues for our talented artists to gain international recognition and expand their reach. Investing in these areas will ensure that our music resonates globally,” he stated.
Director of the Warner Music Blavatnik Center for Music Business at Howard University, Professor Jasmine Young, underscored the significance of sustaining the festival for future generations.
“WAMAFEST is more than just a celebration; it is a platform that can give back to society by amplifying the powerful voice that music provides. It’s crucial that we continue this festival in the coming years to nurture and showcase our talent.”
WAMAFEST
WAMAFEST is a 4-day celebration of West African music, arts, and culture. It kicked off on June 19, 2024, at Accra’s Kwame Nkrumah Memorial Park.
The festival in its maiden edition will feature a music industry conference, panel discussions, workshops, art installations, performances by top artistes, masterclasses with industry icons and a Juneteenth Parade, promoting tourism and economic development in the subregion.
