The chief organiser of the upcoming maiden Gambia International Kora Festival recently met the minister of Tourism and Culture, Fatou Mass Jobe-Njie and other officials of her Ministry to discuss, among other things, issues relating to the festival.

Oko Drammeh, who conceived the initiative to provide the platform to showcase The Gambia as the historic destination where the 21-string musical instrument originates from, met the top echelons of the Tourism Ministry as part of efforts to step up preparations to stage a cultural fiesta that would have an enduring impact on the development of the country’s tourism industry.  Scheduled to take place in the cultural town of Brikama, the administrative seat of the West Coast Region, the organisers have disclosed that the event will now take place from the 16th of April 2012 to the 29th of April.

The festival, which is expected to attract many Kora players within and outside the country, according to the organizers, is necessitated by the historical fact that the 21-string instrument is identical to the Gambia and have its roots in the country as mentioned in the TV series and Movie "Roots” by American author Alex Haley – as one that originated from the Gambia coming to America via the slaves from the “Gamby- Bolongo”, meaning the River Gambia.

Speaking in a brief interview with the Daily Observer, Oko Drammeh, organiser of the acclaimed Africa Music Festival Holland, said the meeting was a morale boost to their efforts towards organising the festival. He commended the Tourism and Culture minister for her interest and commitment towards the initiative.

His words: “The meeting with the minister of Tourism and Culture Fatou Mass Jobe-Njie on Tuesday the 10th of January was very positive. The approach of the minister as I entered her office was very exciting. It was a meeting where I presented my programme I intend to do in Brikama. I have told the meeting that I have met local authorities in Brikama, the host town who all approved this festival.”

Oko also intimated that the minister’s remark was very positive. “She was happy and very eager to give her full support to be the muscle and emblem behind this festival. She underscored that culture is a vehicle to promote tourism and also encouraged me to go ahead,” he said.

Other speakers at the meeting, according to Drammeh were the permanent secretary at the Tourism Ministry, Noah Touray;  Momodou Joof, deputy permanent secretary; and   Baba Ceesay, Ag. director general of the National Centre of Arts and Culture.