The objective of this beach-based festival revolves around the need to bring together Africans and all people of African descent to commemorate the legacy of Bob Marley and at the same time celebrate the richness and diversity of Gambian culture.
As such the festival programme is very interactive and crafted in a way to highlight the famous three Es of tourism: education, experience and entertainment.
Accordingly, this spectacular event will be fun packed, and the stage shows will feature music from the best Gambian and UK DJs to entertain the festival participants on the beach so as to bring out the real Gambian experience.
At the same time, a variety of interactive events will be showcased including performance by African and international artists, Senegalese wrestlers, fire eaters and drummers and the culinary delights of the Smiling Coast will be showcased.
As part of the education component of the festival, a special seminar is included in the festival bundle, and special themes have been lined up including business development and property purchase and Nation Building in Africa.
According to Farmang Max Mane, CEO and General Manager of Sand Beach Holiday Resort, the festival is designed to open up The Gambia to a different focus, given that “tourists relate the Gambia to the beautiful beaches and enjoy the sunshine, so we wanted to bring a different focus and try to bring different types of tourists to widen the tourism calendar”.
“It is therefore my pleasure to announce that the sand Beach Hotel and Resort and GALAXY Entertainment Park will be the host of this spectacular beach festival, and this will avail us the great opportunity to showcase our unrivalled friendly service and wonderful products of this trendy and homegrown hospitality outfit.”
Rave about Africa is a UK-based company and the Director is Mrs Velma Wright-Moven.
The company’s mission is to ‘Give Back to Africa’ and as such annual trips, investments, festivals and other activities are carried out in The Gambia.
Over the past six years Rave about Africa have organised a number of trips where people from the UK are encouraged to give support to charities and schools, invest and re-settle in The Gambia.
In 2014 in recognition of this work and support to the International Bi-Annual Roots Festival was rewarded with the presentation of the ORG to Mrs Velma Wright-Moven and Musical Director Mr Madu Ellis.
In 2016 Rave about Africa has once again put Gambia at the top of its priority by becoming official promoters for the International Roots Festival and related development programmes of The Gambia including the critical health sector.
There were 13,400 cases of diabetes reported in Gambia in 2015. The festival platform will therefore be used to raise awareness of this and part of the proceeds of the festival will go to the Gambia Diabetes Association (GDA) as well as donating test kits.
Velma Wright-Moven stated: “This weekend Reggae Beach Festival will bring together thousands of International visitors and Gambians who will participate in the educational and entertainment aimed at nurturing unity and togetherness and we intend for this to become an annual event in the Gambia.”
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