The 13th edition of the Anoumabo Urban Music Festival (FEMUA) opened on Tuesday in Abidjan around the theme “Africa-Europe Alliance: Peace and Development”, in the presence of diplomats, ministers and actors from the cultural world.
“Finally, FEMUA 13, this edition, we have been waiting for it. The Covid-19 epidemic led us to postpone this FEMUA which should have taken place since 2020 and like FEMUA, the whole culture had been impacted”, declared Traoré Salif dit “A’Salfo” , the general commissioner of the event.
A’Salfo, vocal lead of the Ivorian group Magic System, expressed his “pleasure to relaunch this FEMUA” which for him will characterize the resumption of cultural actions, especially in the music sector in Côte d’Ivoire, during the launch ceremony. held in Anoumabo, in the south of Abidjan.
Anoumabo is a village in the commune of Marcory, which saw the growth of the four magicians, revealed to the world through the title “Premier Gaou”. This festival, which takes off there every year, is a mark of recognition for its people.
The deputy mayor of Marcory, Aby Raoul, who accompanied the Magic System group in its momentum, was delighted that the village of Anoumabo is now known in the world thanks to magicians.
This FEMUA which is held in the context of the Covid-19 health crisis “will not only be a FEMUA of music, it will also be a FEMUA of awareness, and which will call on these young people who are still reluctant to be vaccinated”, has A’Salfo said.
“This is why arrangements have been made within the INJS (space to host the festivities), during the FEMUA so that the vaccination centers are installed in order to allow all those who would like to be vaccinated, to do it with peace of mind,” he added.
The 13th edition of FEMUA is being held from September 7 to 12, 2021 with Senegal as the country of honor. Abidjan will host part of the festivities and the seaside town of Grand-Bassam, another part of the program.
One of the innovations for this year is the holding of concerts over four days. In previous years, the public was entitled to two days of concerts in Abidjan and an evening concert relocated.
This year, the European Union (EU) celebrates 60 years of cooperation with Côte d’Ivoire. The EU ambassador, Jobst Von Kirchmann, welcomed the fact that this festival also allows young people to have access to training and job offers.
During this festival, the European Union will organize high-level panels on the various cooperations between Côte d’Ivoire and the organization. This should allow young people to seize the opportunities offered by the institution in the context of training.
To FEMUA spectators and in particular young people, Mr. Jobst Von Kirchmann launched “enjoy yourselves with this variety of music, participate in the discussions on the different themes, but above all apply all the measures to fight against Covid -19”.
The Senegalese Minister of Culture and Communication, Abdoulaye Diop, assured that this celebration will also be that of the resident compatriots who will take part in the various artistic programs.
The country of Teranga will be, after Burkina Faso, in the spotlight with a day to devote to it which will end with a Senegalese evening at the French Institute of Côte d’Ivoire. On this occasion, Senegal intends to discover its flights of worship.
The Ivorian Minister of Culture, Arts and Entertainment Industry, Harlette Badou Nguessan, renewed his satisfaction with the Magic System group and assured government support for the event.
The launch ceremony for the 13th edition of FEMUA ended with the symbolic laying, at the EPP Magic System in Anoumabo, of the first stone of two primary schools to be built by the Group, in particular in Tanda (East ) and in Vavoua (West).
Icons of European and African music have been invited to this festival. About twenty artists are expected, among others, Kofi Olomidé, Pape Diouf, David Carreira (Portugal), Mala Rodriguez (Spain), Vegedream (France), Floby, Zahara (South Africa).
