A representative of Nollywood, the internationally renowned Nigerian movie and entertainment industry, has made a promise to cover and feature the biennial Roots International Homecoming Festival and the annual Kanilai cultural festival.

“Nollywood is resolved to cover and feature the international Roots festival and we are looking forwards to working with stakeholders in The Gambia to that effect. The Gambia is an important market for the Nollywood movie and entertainment industry,” said Ejike Asiegbu, president of the Actors Guild of Nigeria.

He made these remarks in response to comments made by Kaliba Senghore, permanent secretary, Department of State for Tourism and Culture. The PS who deputied for the SoS for Tourism and Culture, Nancy Njie, at the official launching of  the FAME Africa programme, at a ceremony held in the conference hall of the Paradise Suites Hotel in Kololi, urged the Nigerian movie and entertainment industry to cover and feature some of the traditional cultural events in The Gambia.

According to the Tourism and culture PS the two traditional cultural festivals are of international significance meant to promote development and preserve our rich traditional cultural norms and values.  

Sheriff Gomez, SoS for Youth and Sports, seized the opportunity to urge Gambian youths to make good use of the FAME programme and desist from making what he called the perilous sea journey to Europe.  He expressed hope that the FAME Africa programme will create mass employment opportunities for Gambian youths.