THE ROOTS INTERNATIONAL FESTIVAL

This festival, now in its eighth edition, centers on the spiritual, cultural, and historical orientation of a celebration of freedom. It spans almost ten days, offering excursions to the katchically sacred pool, a trade fair of African artifacts and cloth, musical bonanza of artists from the continent, cultural night and theatre, visits to Albreda Slavery museum, an initiation to the rites of passage and other African Traditional Religions, and obviously a day out to the home of the hero that most will never forget, Kunta Kinteh; a hero taken away as a boy from rural Gambia and enslaved in the U.S.A. He never forgot his Roots, and fought for his freedom, and those that followed after him. Although he was a slave, he was born a free man, and in spirit died a free person. His legend brought to life by his great, great great grandson, Alex Harley, tells of the trials and tribulations of the Kinteh clan, a family who still dwell in Juffureh, where Kunta was abducted many centuries ago, at the dawn of the greatest tragedy of Africa , the slave trade. This festival, although in its infancy, has the potential of being one of the greatest home coming events for the Diaspora and non-Africans the world over. It is welcoming, it is inspiring, it is exhilarating, it is emotional, but most important of all it is about a welcome home extended to the world. The Gambia , the smallest nation in Africa, opens its arms to everyone and once again the hospitality is poured on those that reciprocate the Smiling Coast ' swarm embrace.

The festival takes place in early June, every two years.