The unprecedented wave of change through culture is ranging through out the country and beyond, as the 5th edition of the Kanilai International Cultural Festival is in the offing-scheduled for 24th May to 10th June 2009.

The forth coming Kanilai International Cultural Festival is another pace setter in the world of arts and culture in The Gambia and beyond. The festival under the distinguished chief patronage of the Gambian leader, Professor Alhaji Dr Yahya Jammeh, who doubled as the initiator and coordinator, is aimed at among other things, to promote, develop and preserve the spirit of arts and other related traditional cultural norms and values in the country, Africa and the world at large.

The festival is also geared towards promoting and developing almost every aspects of  human life  in the country, especially in the areas  of socio-economicand political development among others, as well as strengthening the spirit of the existing multi and bilateral  cooperations between member countries in the sub-region, Africa and the world at large.

This year's event is expected to  bring participants from local, national and international level. It will be characterised by extensive and intensive exhibition of different traditional cultural norms and values tenable in all the participating countries. Awards and certificates would be presented to deserving winners at the end of the two-week long cultural festival.

Kanilai, the birth place of President Jammeh is described by many as a land of culture. This column would endeavour to relay latest developments in the organisation of the event, as the scheduled date is drawing nearer.