Alex Haley’s book ‘Roots’ put The Gambia under spotlight - says minister Bah
Banjul, Gambia (PANA) - Gambia's Minister of Tourism and Culture Hamat NK Bah Wednesday told the national organising committee (NOC) of the Roots Festival that the book, authored by African American writer Alex Haley, put the spotlight on the tiny West African nation.
He made the statement at the inauguration ceremony of the 2020 Roots Festival attended by African Americans and African Diaspora.
He said this was largely because the story was partly set in The Gambia, with Gambian villages like Juffureh, Albreda recurring in the story line.
Haley’s book - Roots -was published in 1976.
The festival, Bah explained, began as a biennial event but was hijacked and removed from the Roots home of Juffureh and taken elsewhere.
“By the time the last edition was held in 2016, Roots Festival was a mere shadow of what it was meant to be and could have been,” he said.
He added: “The upcoming edition will have a new look but basically the aims and objectives of the festival remain the same”.
“This include to Reunite Peoples of African descent with Africa while promoting The Gambia and her cultural, historical and traditional values; to further encourage cultural tourism and investment in The Gambia, in particular and Africa in general.”
He also said the aims and objectives, among others, include forging closer ties between The Gambia and Pan African peoples, for meaningful mutual co-operation and development; to promote, enhance and encourage African Unity amongst Africans in the Diaspora and Africa.
The minister however implored the NOC member to work hard towards achieving their mission and not allow some of the challenges which affected previous NOC to befall them.
-0- PANA MSS/RA 08Jan2020
