Limbe 5th FESTAC Kicks Off April 7
By NFOR Hanson NCHANJI
Limbe, Cameroon-Monday March 12, 2018-7: 27 PM Local Time( Cameroon News Agency) The 5th edition of the Limbe Festival of Arts and Culture which has become a yearly rendezvous has been scheduled to take place from 7- 14 April, 2018, the Government Delegate to the Limbe City Council, Motanga Andrew Monjimba has revealed.
This was during a Press briefing which took place Monday March 12, 2018 at the Conference Hall of the Limbe City Council.
The Government Delegate to the Limbe City Council, Motanga Andrew Monjimba who chaired the event said this year’s event will be special in the sense that, it coincides with celebrations marking the 160th anniversary of the founding of Victoria, today called Limbe.
The traditional Fashion Parade has been extended to include persons from other communities, Female Canoe race, a special cash prize from the Government Delegate , of FCFA 1 000,000 set aside for the first three best rejuvenated dance groups, are some of the innovations for this year.
The Limbe Press briefing which saw the participation of Stakeholders was also time for the Government Delegate to make an appraisal of the previous events. Motanga Andrew Monjimba said throughout four editions, the Limbe Festival of Arts and Culture, FESTAC, has been a success because its population has demonstrated a sense of responsibility, maturity and discernment which has made the festival unique amongst others.
But he did not forget the fact that critics have always been hovering around, Motanga said, “We are not blinking an eye over the raison d’être of Limbe FESTAC. The cynics, detractors and petitioners can continue with the past time but we are strongly convinced that we are serving our community and going by their massive participation and support, we have calm minds and spirits.”
A cross section of Journalists drawn from media organs in the South West and Littoral regions were interested in aspects such as budget, security, innovations and prospects. The Government Delegate said the organizing committees will be working on a budget of over FCFA 100 million but insisted that, “ Limbe FESTAC is not a money wasting event, neither is it a festival for organizers to line their pockets.”
Motanga Andrew Monjimba used the opportunity to appeal on the business community to give the festival a push by saying, “ I am still at a loss to understand this trickling in sponsorship put side by side with the grandeur and magnitude of Limbe FESTAC. This is even more disturbing when festivals and events of lesser magnitudes to limbe FESTAC get mouth-watering cheques from these companies.”
Considering the socio-political situation in the two English speaking regions of Cameroon, the Government Delegate assured the Press that security of participants will be the number one priority of organizers, “There will be maximum security, as you can see the SDO is the chairman of the security committee and I cannot teach him his job but be rest assured that there will be security at its best.”
Hon. Etombi, MP for Fako East constituency like other stakeholders present, appealed for a massive attendance of Limbe population and environs for the April 7 Arts and Cultural bonanza. To her, the Limbe FESTAC was a sign to show the world that they are one and indivisible, she echoed this in her speech when she said, “Let us show the world that we are one and can live together. Let us encourage people to go to FESTAC because each time you go there, you grow and increase your life span. We need to bring more people to relax and show the world the true colors of Limbe.”
The organizing committee is envisaging a more aggressive move in publicity and has an eye in boosting the tourism sector during the event.
