Kumasi, March 9, GNA - The Centre for National Culture (CNC) in Kumasi would in November next year hold an International Black Arts and Culture Festival. This has been planned to coincide with the 60th anniversary of the creation of the Centre. Mr Samuel Adjei, the Director, told the Ghana News Agency that the festival, a replica of the one celebrated in Atlanta, United States, has been institutionalized on the Centre's calendar as a biennial event. The aim is to bring peoples of black descent under what he termed the "Kum tree", to reconnect with their roots.

Mr Adjei said the creation of Asanteman by Otumfuo Osei Tutu I was a crucial turning point in the history of the black race - the beginning of their assertiveness.

It was therefore important to institute a festival that would help bring black peoples together to their "birth place" to celebrate their heritage. Mr Adjei said exhibitions, cultural display and performances, colloquium and youth education programmes would be the major activities for the celebration. He said elaborate preparations are being made to ensure the success of the festival and he appealed to the people, especially those in Kumasi, to assist make the occasion a memorable one. The Centre would formally launch the programme for the festival in May.