Two Seasoned highlife musicians, Kojo Antwi and Koo Nimo have been invited to participate in this year?s edition of Market for African Performing Arts (MASA) slated for July 27, in Cote d?lvoire.

Eddie Band, a musical dance group based in Ghana has also been invited to perform alongside the two Ghanaian artistes.

MASA is an international cultural programme created in 1993 in Cote d?lvoire for the development of African performing arts.

It has been designed to promote artistes and their works and incorporate them into international and socio-cultural development of Africa.

It is also to make African theatrical, dance and musical productions and artistes better known to professionals throughout the world.

The edition is part of MASA?s contribution to the restoration of peace and consolidation of democracy in Cote d?lvoire at the cultural level.

The Director General of MASA, Mr. Thomas Manou Yablaih, who made this known at a press conference in Accra, said this special edition would be held in Abidjan and four other cities namely, Bouake, Korhoro and Man, in rebel-controlled areas, and Daloa, a city located on the border of the ?confidence Zone? This year?s edition dubbed, ?Democracy, and Democratic Culture; Crises Settlement and Peace in Africa? would be in a round-table form followed by an artistic aspect with the organizational and a special edition themed, ?Peace in Cote d?lvoire?.

To this end, musical, theatrical and dancing shows would be performed by the artistes from Cote d?lvoire and other African countries, and would be repeated concomitantly in the four towns, according to the director general.

?The theme for this year is of paramount importance for African countries which need peace, stability and social coherence,? he said.

Ghana has been formally invited through the Ministry of Chieftaincy and Culture to participate fully in its programmes.