After the successful hosting of the maiden edition of the Pan-Afrika Drum Festival on July 28, 2023 in Canada, the event organiser, The Drum Online Media Incorporation, is preparing to host the second edition with the theme,
‘Exploring the Dynamism of African Drums and Canadian Multiculturalism for Global Unity, Inclusivity and Development’.
It is expected to commence on Thursday, June 27, 2024, at Fuzion Banquet Hall, Britannia Road, Mississauga, Ontario, Canada, while the grand finale will be on Friday, July 28.
The festival convener, Prince Segun Akanni, said it would be held in collaboration with the Global Forum for Human Rights and Sustainable Development (GFHRSD), a United Nations recognised non-governmental organisation and other bodies.
The first edition was very successful with goodwill messages from the Canadian Prime Minister, Justin Trudeau; Premier of Ontario, Doug Ford; Mayor of Brampton, Patrick Brown; Canadian Secretary of State and former Minister of Immigration, Gerry Weiner; Arole Oodua, Ooni of Ife, Ogunwusi Babatunde Adeyeye; Osun State Governor, Senator Ademola Adeleke; the Olota of Otta Awori Kingdom and His Imperial Majesty, Oba (Prof.) Adeyemi Abdulkabir Obalanlege, among others.
Akanni noted that some of the activities for the second edition would include a courtesy visit and interactive sessions with the Premier of Ontario, Mayor of Brampton and Mayor of Toronto, Olivia Chow; Mayor of Kitchener, Berry Vrbanovic; cultural and tourism sectors such as Canadian Council for the Arts as well as some Canadian media organisations.
Akanni stated the festival’s new theme is expected to incorporate other African drum festivals into a unified feast, which serves as an opportunity to showcase their rich and diverse cultural values to global stage.
“There will be exciting and new programmes and it will commemorate Canadian Multiculturalism Day on June 27, which holds across major cosmopolitan cities in Canada every year,” he said.
Akanni, on behalf of the organising committee, urged sponsors and partners to collaborate with the team to record another milestone accomplishment in their collective quest towards a culturally tolerant, harmonious and united world.
