Ivory Coast's biggest urban music festival kicks off in Anoumabo

One of Ivory Coast’s biggest festivals, the Urban Music Festival (FEMUA) has opened at Anoumabo a small town in the capital, Abidjan.

Fifteen local and international artistes will be performing at the ninth edition of the festival.

They include Vieux Farka Toure from Mali, Charlotte Dipanda from Cameroon, Elida Almedia from Cape Verde, Daddy Lumba from Ghana and The Ijahman singers from Jamaica.

The event is the first major concert to be held in the Ivorian capital since the March 13 terror attack at Grand Bassam which claimed at least 19 lives.

Lots of activities will be ongoing at the festival site daily. Ivorian DJs, dance groups, comedians, face painters, fire eaters and bouncy castles will be available.

“Magic in the air” in Ivory Coast as musicians perform at #Femua – #BBCAfricaLive https://t.co/pYbKMvSyN5 pic.twitter.com/GcYGu4kIRO

— BBC Africa (@BBCAfrica) April 21, 2016

Salif Traore, leader of the Ivorian zouglou group, Magic System, which organised the event explained that the goal of the project “is to help the most disadvantaged by creating social cohesion through music and ensuring we live together because our country has gone through difficult times.”

The theme for the event which was chosen before the Grand Bassam attack is “Youth and Development.”

Organisers say the theme is to draw the attention of authorities to the “vulnerability” of the younger generation as a vulnerable youth without a social cause can be easily radicalised.

AFP