The much awaited fifth edition of the Kanilai International Cultural Festival (KICF), under the visionary and distinguished chief patronage of His Excellency Sheikh Professor Alhaji Dr Yahya Jammeh, has been scheduled to take place from the 21st of May to the 7th of June 2010.

The rare cross-cutting cultural festival is initiated and implemented by the Gambian leader President Jammeh, who is renowned for his passionate Pan-African spirit filled with love for the development of The Gambia, Africa and the world at large. According to a press release from the organising committee of the festival under the able chairmanship of Alhaji Momodou Sanyang, who doubles as the director general of The Gambia Radio and Television Services (GRTS), the prestigious cultural event which commenced about five years ago, is aimed among others to revive, promote and develop our rich cultural heritage.

The release further indicated that, the  Festival is also designed to exhibit and showcase the diverse performances of different ethnic groups at both local and international level and is expected to be characterised by an extensive mystical display, masquerades, music, dance and drama. The organising committee appreciatively extended an open and warm welcome to individuals at both local and international with specific powers and abilities in line with the aims and objectives of the festival.

The festival has been described by many, especially culture and   history lovers as a move that comes at the right time considering the trend of affairs in the country, Africa and the world. In addition, they further described Kanilai as a land of culture and linked the move to what they called reliving our past to define today and the future.