Ines Abdel Dayem inaugurates African Arts and Folklore Festival

CAIRO – 28 October 2018: Minister of Culture Ines Abdel Dayem inaugurated on October 27 the African Arts and Folklore Festival.

Abdel Dayem recounted during the festival's opening ceremony that art with all its types is considered the most accurate communication language between nations.

The Egyptian minister of culture praised the festival, stressing that it is considered one of Egypt's soft powers working to deepen the rapprochement between Africa and Asia, and offering a good opportunity for Egyptians to learn about different cultures.

Abdel Dayem expressed her happiness that the festival's round was dedicated to late South African President Nelson Mandela in celebration of the centennial of Nelson Mandela’s birth.

A number of public figures were honored in the African Arts and Folklore Festival opening ceremony such as famed Egyptian actor Mahmoud Kabeel, renowned Egyptian archeologist Zahi Hawass, El-Masryeen Music band, Roba’i Nouh troupe, Ayamna el-Helwa troupe, Four M band, Cancer Hospital for Children Coral and the Chinese cultural counselor in Egypt.

The African Arts and Folklore Festival is held under the title “100 years of Mandela - Africa – China – Arab Nations”.

A total of twenty five countries are participating in the significant event held under the auspices of the Ministry of Tourism, Ministry of Youth and Sports and the Ministry of Culture.

The festival affirms that human communication among the nations of the world can be achieved through the ministry’s new promotional campaign, which aims to introduce the world to the Egyptian people through arts, culture, science and creativity in all fields.

The African Arts and Folklore Festival is the culmination of the growing Sino-African relations. The festival also sheds light on the importance of the Egyptian-Chinese ties, and the keenness of the Arab countries to strengthen communication with the African and Chinese sides.

Minister of Youth and Sports Ashraf Subhi previously commented that the ministry’s strategic plan aims to deepen the Egyptian, African and Chinese relations.

The minister further asserted that the label “100 years of Mandela” strengthens the Egyptian-African ties even more. Subhi added that arts are the gateway to human convergence.

Minister of Culture Abdel Dayem previously commented that the Afro-Sine Arts and Folklore Festival is one of the most important festivals hosted by Egypt and sponsored by the ministry. The minister added that the festival aims to boost the ties between the countries of the continent and China and develop the cultural and artistic cooperation between them.

“It is a wonderful festival that offers a mixture of arts and folklore from the oldest continents of the world; Africa and Asia,” Abdel Dayem previously stated.