Thousands of Artists March in 9th Festival of Cultures in Gabon

Nearly 1000 Gabonese and foreign artists marched Saturday at the seafront boulevard in Libreville within the framework of the 9th edition of the “Festival of culture” which kicked off Friday with an exhibition dedicated to the contribution of women to development.

The Gabonese head of state Omar Bongo Ondimba chaired the procession. He admired and sometimes applauded the talents of some artists before the official platform where he sat with the members of cabinet and many guests.

A South-African traditional group, guest stars of this festival, opened the highly colorful event.

The Gabonese artists from the nine provinces of the country and the communities of the foreign representatives in Libreville, who also displayed their cultural know-how, followed.

Popular balls will be held at the Omar Bongo Ondimba stadium, at the Libreville beach and in some districts of the capital, until the festival’s closing next Monday.

“I am very happy to see all this passion,” declared the Gabonese Culture minister, Paul Mba Abessolo, designer and initiator of the festival of cultures in the 1990s when he was not part of the presidential majority.

At that time, Mba was mayor of Libreville and a radical opponent to the regime of President Bongo.

The festival of cultures stopped following his entrance to cabinet in 2002. Mba Abessolo no longer had the complete freedom of action to impose and continue this initiative which however was appreciated by the government which endorsed it.

Thus, the festival of cultures reappeared but as a scientific and cultural event, with the name Journees thematiques” (thematic days). Without its “popular and populous” part, the festival was in a bad shape for four years before once again becoming credible.

Source African Press Agency

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