George Darko For a record third time Ghana?s highlife maestro George Darko a.k.a, Nana Ampem Darko I, who is also Tufuhene of Akropong Akwapem has been selected to represent Ghana at the African Festival (Delft) held annually in the Dutch town of Delft.

Considered one of the biggest African Festivals in Europe, the festival, started by Gambian Oko Drameh 21 years ago has featured some of the top names on the African music scene such as the Legend Fela Anikulapo Kuti, Manu Dibango, Papa Wembe, Smiley Osei, Kofi Ayivor among others.

But had to be rescued by 26 individual African Dutch foundations from 20 different African countries known as the African Network when the festival had some problems. The African Network decided that they will not allow the festival to die last January and has therefore decided to sponsor and promote it.

The Chairman of the African Network, Guled A. Yusuf and two other members of the planning committee, George Duncan of Sankofa Foundation and Arno Bos, director of the festival, were in Ghana last week to commence arrangements in connection with a Highlife Sunsplash to be held in Ghana next March.

While in Ghana they met with George Darko who will be performing once again on the festival in Delft. The African Festival (Delft) showcases African music dance, fashion and artifacts in the first week of August annually.

According to George Darko, he is very happy to be invited again because it is a really big platform on which to showcase highlife music which is still struggling to earn world recognition in a big way as reggae and the other music genres in Africa and the diaspora have done.

In a chat with George Duncan, Chairman of Sankofa Foundation a member of the African Network, the Highlife Sunsplash will be organised by Sankofa Foundation in conjunction with Big Boss Management chaired by Arno Bos who has had over 20 years experience working in Africa in the area of music Festival organisation and rural project management.

Guled Yusuf, chairman of the African Network, disclosed that the High Sunsplash which will be held next June in Accra and Kumasi simultaneously, will be used as the platform to select Ghanaian musicians to appear on the annual African Festival (Delft) in the Netherlands.