Accra Launches Inaugural West Africa Music and Arts Festival

The West Africa Music and Arts Festival (WAMAFEST) has been launched in Accra, Ghana, with a four-day event that promises to celebrate music and African culture.

The festival, which started on June 19, 2024, at the Kwame Nkrumah Memorial Park, features a music industry conference, panel discussions, workshops, art sales, performances by artists, masterclasses with industry icons, and a Juneteenth Parade to promote tourism and economic development.

The CEO of the Ghana Tourism Authority, Akwasi Agyemang, emphasised the importance of collaboration between Warner Music and Ghana to establish the country as a hub for cultural and music events in West Africa.

“We are committed to establishing Ghana as a central hub for cultural and music events in West Africa. It is imperative that we work together to share our expertise and create a robust platform that not only preserves our rich cultural traditions but also propels our music onto the global stage,” he said.

Kabiru Bello, Vice President of Global A&R at Warner Recorded Music, called for investments in avenues that provide artists and creatives with greater exposure and opportunities.

“We need to create more avenues for our talented artists to gain international recognition and expand their reach. Investing in these areas will ensure that our music resonates globally,” he stated.

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The festival aims to create a platform that propels Ghanaian heritage through music to the global stage, preserves rich cultural traditions, and provides a robust platform for artists to gain international recognition.

The launch brought together a group of esteemed individuals, including Ghana’s Minister for Tourism, Arts, and Culture, Andrew Agyapa Mercer; Ghana’s Second Lady Samira Bawumia; and the CEO of the Ghana Tourism Authority, Akwasi Agyeman, along with delegates from various West African countries.

Notable attendees included representatives from Global A&R Warner Recorded Music, MUSIGA President Bessa Simons, HipHopPreneur and Marketing Strategist Professor Jasmine Young, and artistes including Efya, Reggie Rockstone and Trigmatic.