2nd edition of the East African Community Arts and Culture Festival opens in Nairobi

2nd edition of the East African Community Arts and Culture Festival (Jumuiya ya Afrika Mashariki Utamaduni Festival –JAMAFEST) has been officially opened by the Deputy President of the Republic of Kenya, H.E William Ruto yesterday at the Kenyatta International Conference Centre (KICC) Nairobi, Kenya.

The Deputy President, who represented His Excellency President Uhuru Kenyatta, urged the Partner States, through the Council of Ministers, to nurture arts and culture in the region by developing appropriate

He said the EAC Partner States in line with the Common Market Protocol must develop strategies through which the region can benefit from this lucrative trade opportunity to realize development gains while fostering, protecting and promoting the creative economy in the region.

The Guest of honour further urged the Council of Ministers to be passionate about Sports and Cultural sectors by allocating enough resources for championing activities that bring the East African common citizens together. “These activities, which are really close to the hearts of our common citizens, include festivals of this nature as well as sports and games competitions in all major disciplines”.

His Excellency Ruto said convening and hosting the 2nd edition of Jamafest in Nairobi was a big leap forward in creating social understanding among the East African people, who have common identity, aspirations and destiny; adding that “We need to use our arts and culture to creatively tell the East African story”.

Contingents of cultural workers, artists from all the five Partner States of Burundi, Kenya, Rwanda, United Republic of Tanzania and Uganda, and the Nairobi public are taking part in the week-long Jamafest under the theme; unleashing the economic potential of cultural and creative industries in the EAC. The festival website is www.jamafest2016.eac.int.