……Says The Festival Will Be Celebrated In Commemoration Of Canadian Multiculturalism Day In Grand Style
The organisers of the Drum Festival, The Drum Online Media Incorporation, are preparing to host the second edition of the festival on June 27, 2024. The festival’s theme is “Exploring the Dynamism of African Drums and Canadian Multiculturalism for Global Unity, Inclusivity, and Development”. The event will take place at Fuzion Banquet Hall, Britannia Road, Mississauga, Ontario, Canada, and the grand finale will be held on July 28, 2024, at Wesley Hall, 69 Milvan Dr, North York, ON M9L 1Y8, as part of the Pan-Afrika Drum Festival.
In a press release, Prince Segun Akanni, the convener of the festival, announced that the festival will be held in collaboration with the Global Forum for Human Rights and Sustainable Development (GFHRSD), a United Nations-recognised non-governmental organisation, and other organisations. The first edition of the festival was very successful, with messages of goodwill from various dignitaries, including Canadian Prime Minister Justin Trudeau, Premier of Ontario Hon. Doug Ford, Nigeria Ambassador to Canada Ambassador Adeyinka Asekun, Mayor of Brampton Hon. Patrick Brown, Canadian Secretary of State and Former Minister Of Immigration Hon Gerry Weiner, Arole Oodua Ooni Ogunwusi Babatunde Adeyeye, Ooni of Ife, Osun State Governor Senator Ademola Adeleke, The Olota of Otta Awori Kingdom, His Imperial Majesty Oba (Prof) Adeyemi Abdulkabir Obalanlege, Councillor Ayo Owodunni, among others.
Prince Akanni also revealed that there will be several activities during the second edition, including courtesy visits and interactive sessions with the Premier Of Ontario Hon. Doug Ford, Mayor of Brampton Patrick Brown, Mayor of Toronto Olivia Chow, Mayor Of Kitchener Berry Vrbanovic, Canadian Council For The Arts, and some Canadian media organisations. Additionally, there will be entertainment and other fascinating activities, such as lecture presentations, art exhibitions, drum competitions, beauty pageants/fashion shows, award presentations, cultural performances, and other colourful and mind-blowing side attractions.
Akanni further stated that as part of the strategic efforts to facilitate visa applications processes for invited guests, cultural icons and festival enthusiasts coming from different parts of the world, the Immigration Refugee And Citizenship Canada, having reviewed the application submitted to them for the registration of the second edition of the Pan-Afrika Drum Festival, has accredited the festival with a special event code. This he said, it’s a milestone accomplishment.
Akanni further stated the new theme of the festival is expected to incorporate other African Drum festivals into a unified festival which serves as an opportunity to showcase their rich and diverse cultural values and aesthetics to a global stage.
“There will be exciting and new programmes and it will commemorate Canadian Multiculturalism Day on June 27, which holds across major cosmopolitan cities in Canada every year.
” The Canadian Multiculturalism Day is a symbolic event that recognizes, appreciates and celebrates Canada’s diverse and pluralistic structure as one of the premiere democratic settings in the world.
Continuing.., he said, ” other activities lined for the epoch-making festival include ‘ innovation of the inaugural Africa Media Nite Out, which is expected to honour and celebrate African journalists who have made remarkable contributions towards the growth and development of journalism in Africa. Those who have also promoted African societies by making them better for habitation.
” We hope to integrate this as one of the cardinal components of the annual event in Canada and with this kind of exposure, African journalists will experience the serene and harmonious haven that characterizes Canada’s multi-ethnic and diverse culture.
Prince Akanni, on behalf of the organizing committee, enjoins sponsors and partners to collaborate with the organising team to record another milestone accomplishment in their collective quest toward a culturally tolerant, harmonious and united world.
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