Thaindian News

New Delhi, May 19 (IANS) The ethnic colours of Africa and its vibrant culture cast a spell in an energetic soiree of traditional dances and music as a three-day African culture carnival opened in the capital Tuesday.
The ‘Africa Festival’, hosted by the Indian Council For Cultural Relations (ICCR), features national ballet troupes from five countries - South Africa, Rwanda, Tunisia, Malawi and Nigeria.

The ballets are on a five-city tour of New Delhi, Chandigarh, Haridwar, Jaipur and Lucknow as part of the festival. The five countries represent south, east, west and central Africa with their distinctive cultures, dances, music, and lifestyles.

The Africa Festival is in consonance with India’s policy of strengthening its multilateral ties with Africa. In April 2008, a two-day cultural event called “A Tribute to Africa” was organised by the ICCR on the sidelines of an India-Africa summit in New Delhi. It included 12 countries.

“Festival Africa is a continuation of the cultural dialogue that began in 2008. Dance and music have an universal appeal. At ICCR, our mandate is to develop cultural relations around Africa and we need much more interaction with 53 countries in Africa. In this world where lives are full of tension and polarities, we need to counteract the tension with culture,” ICCR president Karan Singh said while inaugurating the festival at Kamani Auditorium.