**************************** SPECIAL NOTE: THIS IS A LOW PRIORITY E-MAIL ADDRESS. IF YOU WISH TO HAVE AN ISSUE URGENTLY ADDRESSED, PLEASE SEND IT TO [log in to unmask] ***************************** [The Gambia, West Africa] Slavery! Heritage! Traditions! History! Building a bridge and sharing a vision in Africa! The Republic of The Gambia is hosting the Sixth Edition of the International Roots Festival in the Gambia, West Africa. The Roots Festival has been an annual event since 1996. It is designed to encourage people of African descent who reside within the Diaspora to further discover, re-affirm and re-embrace their ancestral identity through confronting their physical past. You may recall the late great African-American author by the name of Alex Haley, who discovered his "Roots" in The Gambian Village of Juffureh, and wrote a book based on his findings which later became a TV series known to millions as "ROOTS". Also featured in the TV series was James Island, an island in the River Gambia which bears the last remains of a slave fort where Africans were held captive before they were forcibly put into slave ships to embark on "a journey to hell". The festive package includes visits to historical sites and places, pulsating display's of cultural performances, International Music Bonanza, Seminar on Investments, Trade Exhibition, Drama productions, Carnival Procession, A 'Roots' Day and an African Redemption Day amongst a host of other events. ROOTS 2002 (to be celebrated from the 1st -9th of June) however will be a celebration of the historical, cultural and social advancement of the African people manifested in dance, music, art etc. This years 'Roots' theme is "In celebration of Gambian Culture". The festival will showcase the Gambia's achievements in culture, music and dance and celebrate our prosperity as a nation. So come to the Gambia, the smiling coast of the West African Sub-region, the quintessential home of the African Diaspora. For more information contact Karen Hobbs, the Roots 2002 Co-ordinator or Hon. Yankuba Touray, the Secretary of State for Tourism at any of the following contacts: Telephone 1 : (220) 228496; Telephone 2 : (220) 202650; Telephone 3 : (220) 227461 Fax Number : (220) 227753 Email Address : [log in to unmask] Official Website: http://www.rootsfestival.gm -end- ~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~ To unsubscribe/subscribe or view archives of postings, go to the Gambia-L Web interface at: http://maelstrom.stjohns.edu/archives/gambia-l.html To contact the List Management, please send an e-mail to: [log in to unmask] ~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~