Prof. Jasmine Young, Co Founder of WAMAfest
WAMAfest, a premier event celebrating West African music, art, and culture, has unveiled its speaker lineup and program for the upcoming four-day event. Co-founder Prof. Jasmine Young, a "HipHopPreneur" and Marketing Strategist, and Kofi Atta Kakra Kusi, a representative from GTA, revealed the exciting details in a recent interview.
The maiden edition of WAMAfest will take place from June 19th to 22nd, 2023. The event will feature a panel discussion on the "History of West African Music and its Global Contribution," moderated by Andy Dosty (Ghana). Panelists will include Daddy Bosco (Musician and member of MUSIGA, Ghana), Prosper Akuegnon GOGOYI (President of the Beninese Music Council, Producer, and Director, Benin), and Eddie Lawani (Entertainment Business Entrepreneur, Nigeria).
Bobby Branson (Lawyer, Ghana) will lead a session on "Intellectual Property Rights and Copyrights in Arts," while Austin Palmer (CEEK Director of Partnerships, USA) will join Trigmatic (Artist, Ghana), Laverne Thomas (Warner Music Chief of Staff, Nigeria), and Amoule Ousmane Herbert (Promoter of Benin Showbiz Awards (BSA), Benin) for a discussion on "Where is the Money?"
The festival kicks off with an opening soirée at the Kwame Nkrumah Memorial Park in Accra, followed by panel discussions at Labadi Beach Hotel on various aspects of the arts, including monetization, sound and production, streaming and revenue, the history of West African music, intellectual property, and more. Representatives from West Africa, the Registrar General's Department, and legal experts will also be in attendance.
The Area Codes concert, powered by YFM, a talent search initiative that will discover new artists, takes place at the University of Ghana Legon. Upcoming talents will share the stage with renowned musicians. Attendees can expect networking opportunities, cultural celebrations, and learning experiences. A parade commemorating Juneteenth, a significant event in Black American history, will take place from the Dubois Centre, followed by a festival at Accra Tourist Information Centre featuring speakers, dignitaries, spoken words, and much more. The Juneteenth celebration is organized by the African American Association of Ghana.
WAMAfest promises to be an unforgettable experience with masterclasses, the Area Codes Concert, and a grand durbar. Jasmine Young believes this event will attract visitors to Ghana in June, expanding the country's tourism scope beyond the "Year of Return" and "Beyond the Return" initiatives.
