This archive report was first published on 23 September 2019.
The East African Community Arts and Culture Festival, also known as JAMAFEST, has returned for its 4th edition, commencing on Sunday in Dar es Salaam, Tanzania.
First held in 2013 in Rwanda, the festival has since been hosted by Kenya in 2015 and Uganda in 2017, with Tanzania now taking the reins for the 2019 edition.
Themed 'Cultural Diversity: A Key Driver to Regional Integration, Economic Growth and Promotion of Tourism,' the week-long event seeks to promote regional socio-cultural integration through arts and culture by providing a platform to showcase culture as a primary driver of regional integration.
Attendees on the first day included Tanzanian Vice President Samia Suluhu Hassan, Kenya's Cabinet Secretary for Sports Amina Mohamed, and Tanzania's Minister of Information, Sports, Arts and Culture, Dr. Harrison Mwakyembe.
Addressing delegates and participants, Vice President Hassan praised the event as a platform for marketing cultural and creative commodity outputs within the region and internationally.
"This festival aims at bringing together East Africa cultural practitioners, workers and administrators to celebrate the rich diversity of East African cultural heritage and creativity. We want to promote cultural tourism as well as conservation, safeguarding and development of cultural heritage within the EAC," she said.
The festival features a range of activities, including carnivals, art exhibitions, a symposium, live performances, films, literary works, a fashion show, traditional East African Foods, music, and traditional games.
