Cameroon set to host Star Festival of African Cultural Integration.

The festival will hold under the theme: “The Artist, vector of African Cultural integration, His role”. The international festival seeks to promote Africa’s rich cultural diversity.

Yesterday, the Minister of Arts and Culture, Bidoung Mkpatt, was briefed on the programme for the event by members of the SICA Organising Committee.

This was during an audience granted the Coordinator of the SICA, Ngo Makele Elisabeth, and her delegation.

For 10 days, participants from across Africa will have the opportunity to display the rich cultural heritage of their various countries in Yaounde. This will be through music and dance with the aim of creating a permanent intercultural dialogue among participating countries.

Participants will come from Cameroon, Congo Brazza, Gabon, Benin, Mali, Cote d’Ivoire, Chad and Burkina Faso. The SICA festival will bring together artists, thinkers and culture lovers.

Minister Bidoung Mkpatt during yesterday’s audience hailed the Coordinator of the festival and her team for staying resolute to promote Africa’s culture. The member of government declared the readiness of the Ministry of Arts and Culture to support the festival.

Ngo Makele told reporters after her audience with the Minister that the festival will feature exhibitions, fun games, conferences, debates and a fashion show.

She talked of culinary arts, crafts, heritage dance, traditional music, guided tours as other innovative activities programmed to put African culture in the spotlight during the event.

The main highlight of the festival, she added, will be the award of prizes to some participants. Makele said these will be in the categories of: Best modern music of Traditional Inspiration, Best Live Presenter and Best Video Clip.