© Africa Fête / Expression, 2007

For the seventh consecutive year, the Africa Fête Festival returns to Senegal during the month of December. This edition of the festival will mark a new phase. Mamadou Konté, who passed away on 20 June, left behind a vision of music and its role in the development of the African continent which is alive and well in the spirit of the Africa Fête team. For 2007, Mamadou Konté had envisaged a travelling festival, which the team is pursing actively.

The Festival opens in Dakar on 1 December on the occasion of World AIDS Day with a concert at the Cultural Centre Blaise Senghor in 'Hommage to Mamadou Konté', an internationally recognized cultural personality, who played a pioneering role in promoting performing arts and developing the careers of many African artists. At this event, several African musicians will perform on the same stage, with Omar Pene as the headline act.

For the first time, the festival will tour the various regions of Senegal, to Ziguinchor (7 December), Louga (15 December) and Kaolack (29 December). Africa Fête wishes to enable the public and cultural operators in other cities of Senegal to benefit from the cultural exuberance of Dakar.

Musical diversity is showcased thanks to new talent from the Senegalese art scene. In parallel, there will be travelling training sessions on stage and touring management.