Ogun State Governor, Senator Ibikunle Amosun, has said the forth coming African Drum Festival ’19, an annual event, organised by his government, will boost the economy and revive culture.

He said this at a world Press Conference, to herald the fourth edition of the festival, with the theme, ‘DRUMming the FUTURE’, held recently at the MITROS Residences, Ibara, Abeokuta.

The governor, who stated that this year’s festival will be bigger, better and an improvement on the last one, added that it will also advance the heritage of the state, with intellectual contributions from Nobel Laureate, Prof. Wole Soyinka, who is the cultural consultant for the festival.

Highlights of the festival, according to him, are the launching of the Ogun Adire logo, with its trade mark, unveiling of the Ransome-Kuti family house, round table workshop at Olumo Rock and train ride from Iju Ishagba in Lagos to Lafenwa in Abeokuta, tagged “Rail, Rhythm and Ride”.

Amosun also said a special tribute would be paid to late Afro beat musician, Fela Anikulapo-Kuti, with a performance by his son, Seun.

The governor said the festival will hold at its permanent venue, the 10,000-capacity amphitheatre, located at the Central Business District, in Abeokuta City Centre, adding that the festival has come to stay, as there will be no reason for successive governments not to continue it.

In her speech, Chairman, African Drum Festival ’19 and Deputy Governor, Chief (Mrs.) Yetunde Onanuga, disclosed that the festival will hold from April 25 to 27.

She said it will feature foreign troupes from United Kingdom, China, Belgium, Haiti, Germany and France, among others, as well as African countries and independent performers.

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