• Website 
www.rootsgambia.gm
Introduction:
The Gambia's bi-annual Roots International Festival
(formerly Homecoming) commemorates the forced enslavement
and shipment of millions of Africans to the Americas
and the Caribbean region. Africans and friends of Africa
from the Diaspora are invited to attend and participate
in the festival. It provides opportunities for atonement
and reconciliation for those whose ancestors were engaged
in slavery and the descendants of Africans forced into
slavery. Its rich programme of events includes cultural
performances from different ethnic groups, tours to
historic sites such as Juffure
& James Island,
dance & drum workshops, carnival parades, symposia,
trade fairs, traditional sporting events and religious
services.
The Roots Secretariat:
The secretariat was created to facilitate, integrate
and to culturally enrich Gambians and Pan Africans who
travel from the Diaspora, to The Gambia exclusively,
to reaffirm and reconnect with their Roots respectively.
Roots Experiences, The main festival, concerts, merchandise
and other Pan African Edutainment programmes are to
be implemented by the secretariat throughout the year.
Background:
The festival has its origins in the publication of Alex
Haley's novel called 'Roots' which was followed by the
TV series. In the wake of the interest generated by
publication the Government of The Gambia brought together
a team of officials that visited the USA in order to
advance The Gambia as an idyllic tourist destination
for tourists from the African Diaspora. As a result
of these efforts visitors from America came to the country
in force but the success of the initiative was limited
due to The Gambia's limited infrastructural resources
and competition from other destinations.
Since 1994 the Government initiated the Roots Festival
with the aim "To bring together Africans and the
people of African descent to commemorate the forced
enslavement of Africans in the Atlantic Slave Trade
system and to celebrate the richness and diversity of
Gambian and African culture as a prelude to the establishment
of a Diaspora Heritage Centre at Juffureh".
The festival which originally began as an annual event
is now held biannually.
Contact Address Details:
NCAC
Independence Drive
Banjul, The Gambia
Tel: 4227980
Fax: 4227461
Email:
rootsthegambia@yahoo.com
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