The FESTAC Limbe 2015 took off on April 4, 2015 with a walk, followed by a carnival of representative cultures from within and outside Cameroon. The second edition of the Festival of Arts and Culture (FESTAC Limbe) which was launched in the presence of Minister of Arts and Culture, Ama Tutu Muna will wrap up on 11 April.

The Minister of Arts and Culture who was present at the opening ceremony of the FESTAC Limbe 2015, expressed her satisfaction stating that the Limbe Festival of Arts and Culture shall grow to become an international festival.

Accompanying the Minister, who opened the event at the Limbe Community Stadium were South West Governor, Bernard Okalia Bilai, a representative of the Nigerian Consul to the North West and South West Regions, Senators, Parliamentarians, Mayors and traditional rulers.

As early as 7am, thousands of people began a march round Limbe city headed by Governor Okalia Bilai, the Government Delegate to the Limbe City Council, Fako Senior Divisional Officer, Zang III and founder of the event, Andrew Motanga Monjimba.

By 2 pm, a carnival of cultural displays kicked off the display at the community field with a splendid showcase of artifacts, culinary samples and other handiwork.

Addressing participants, the Minister of Arts and Culture hinted that the Limbe FESTAC will grow to an international Festival of Arts and Culture with due attention from international bodies.

Minister Tutu Muna, who is credited for inspiring the idea of FESTAC in 2009 during the centenary anniversary of Limbe, congratulated the vision bearer of the event and Government Delegate to the Limbe City Council, Andrew Monjimba Motanga, for ensuring the fruition of FESTAC.

The Minister rejoiced that FESTAC was a sure way to sell Limbe with its numerous tourism potentials to the rest of the world. She, however, reminded all the people present that, the expression of culture goes beyond economic and leisure advantages to serve as the identity of a people.

In an earlier welcome speech, the Government Delegate, Andrew Motanga called for a standing ovation for the fallen soldiers, displaced persons and the Head of State President, Paul Biya, on the front against the senseless, heartless and the inhumane sect, Boko Haram and other security threats.

According to him, the turn-out was to celebrate the cultural diversity and peaceful integration of peoples in Limbe and beyond.

Mr. Monjimba was proud to cite this year’s innovations of FESTAC to include the Miss FESTAC representing nature and gentleness and innocence. To the list of innovations, he added better quality exhibitions of arts and crafts, the carnival, more groups, a boat cruise and tourism at the slave-trade village of Bimbia.

In all, Lebialem, Manyu, Meme, Kupe-Manenguba, Ndian and Fako Divisions held high the South West coulours.

All 10 Regions of Cameroon were represented as well as the splendid participation of people from Benin, Nigeria, Chad, Ghana and other surrounding countries. The Limbe FESTAC runs from 4 April to 11 April, 2015.