Gambian Kora maestro Jaliba Kuyateh received great acclaim from the audience when he performed a new song dedicated to ECOWAS at the opening dinner of the ECOWAS Culture Festival, which kicked off in Dakar, Senegal, on 30th November 2025.
Hundreds of artists and scholars from ECOWAS and UMEOA are attending the six-day event, which was opened on Sunday by the Prime Minister of Senegal, Ousman Sonko, at the Grand Theatre Dodou Ndiaye Coumba Rose in Dakar, before Ministers from Senegal and ECOWAS countries.
The Gambia is represented at ECOFEST by a delegation of 30 artists and cultural performers. The National Centre for Arts and Culture’s Director of Performing Arts is the Chef Du Mission. NCAC worked with the artistic associations to compose the delegation of visual and performing artists. Africell supported the preparations of the Gambian delegation.
Tourism, Arts and Culture Minister Mr. Abdoulie Jobe, assisted by Permanent Secretary Mrs. Amie Njie and Director of NCAC, Mr. Hassoum Ceesay, are attending the event.
Jaliba Kuyateh’s song dedicated to ECOWAS integration through culture was widely received by the dinner guests at the courtyard of the Museum of Black Civilization in Dakar.
Meanwhile, Jaliba King of Kora is billed to perform at the closing ceremony on 5th December.
The Gambian delegation will showcase visual arts such as sculpture, photography, and painting; dance and theatre; and contemporary music and crafts.
By Lamin Njie
Commuications Officer
Ministry of Tourism, Arts and Culture