Accra, Nov. 21, GNA - The Second African Folk Music Festival, which seeks to restore and promote indigenous Ghanaian and African cultural identity was on Wednesday launched in Accra.

Dr Kodzo Gavua, Head of the Archaeology Department of the University of Ghana, expressed worry about the influx of foreign culture, saying the country was at risk of losing its original identity, if efforts were not made to reverse the trend. He said the Department found it necessary to organise the programme to trace the history behind folkloric music and find out how the lyrics communicated the people's way of life.

Dr Gavua called on all musicians to participate in order to find ways to promote indigenous music for the international market, adding that Ghanaian musicians were not doing well internationally because of lack of originality of their works.

Mr Samuel Amartey, President for Legon Archaeology Students Association said the festival would this year include innovative programmes to revive traditions that were fading away. He said providing a common platform to showcase folkloric music would also create better understanding among Africans to promote peace and co-existence within the continent.

Mr Amartey called on corporate institutions and civil society to support the event to attain its objectives.

Efo Kodzo Mawugbe, Artistic Director for the National Theatre, said archaeology was key to addressing the influx of foreign culture and advised the public, especially the youth, not to look down on culture. The festival is scheduled to take place on March 28 at the University of Ghana. Participating countries would be Mali, Burkina Faso, Benin, Togo, Guinea and Cote d'Ivoire.