REPUBLIC
OF LIBERIA
MINISTRY
OF FOREIGN AFFAIRS
MONROVIA,
LIBERIA
Press Release
For Immediate Release
Cairo, 28 April 2014:
The Liberian National Cultural Troupe headed by Mrs.
Louise McMillian, Assistant Minister for Culture at the Ministry of
Information, Cultural Affairs and Tourism participated in the International
Festival for Drums and Traditional Arts under the theme, ‘Drums Dialogue for
Peace’ held in the Arab Republic of Egypt from 19 to 25 April 2014.
The National Culture Troupe performed
at several locations including the historic Salah El-Din Citadel (Castle) and
The Opera House in Cairo. The Troupe was then hosted by H.E. Alexander H.N.
Wallace III, Liberian Ambassador to Egypt, on 23 April at his residence for a
dinner performance which was attended by several Ambassadors and Government
Officials.
Thirty-one Folklore
Bands representing as many as twenty-one countries from the Middle East, Africa
and Asia participated with their drums and traditional folk arts in the
Festival. At the closing ceremony on 25 April 2014, the Egyptian Minister of
Culture, Dr. Mohammed Saber Arab, was joined by the Liberian Assistant Minister for Culture, Madam Louis
McMillian and the Minister of Culture of South Sudan to cut
the ceremonial ribbon.
The
Festival was organized by the Bureau of Foreign
Cultural Relations of the Egyptian Ministry of Culture, under the auspices of the Ministry of
Tourism.
Minister McMillian met with several
dignitaries including the Minister of Culture and the Director of International
Culture Relations among others. Discussions between the Minister and Officials
of the Egyptian Ministry of Culture focused on the improvement of cultural
cooperation between both nations. Upon the Minister’s proposition and request,
the Egyptian party accepted to undertake the establishment of national theater
and cinema in Liberia; they also agreed to train Liberians in Drumming and
Traditional Music as well as in Cartoon Animation. The Egyptian Officials
disclosed that their representatives will visit Liberia in May 2014 for
assessments. They extended an early invitation to the Liberian National
Cultural Troupe to participate in the next Festival expected to be held in
Egypt in September 2014. The two sides concluded that Liberia host an
International Festival, code-named ‘VIVA Liberia’, sometimes this year.
The Egyptian side lauded the Liberian
National Cultural Troupe for a splendid performance throughout the
Festival. On behalf of the Liberian
National Cultural Troupe, the Government and people of the Republic of Liberia,
Minister McMillian expressed heartfelt gratitude to the organizers, the
Government and People of the Arab Republic of Egypt for the hospitality and the
opportunity afforded Liberia to participate in such an elaborate international
occasion; adding, it provided a remarkable platform to allow for the Troupe to
showcase Liberia Cultural Arts and Folk Dances to the rest of the world.
For his part, Ambassador Alexander
H.N. Wallace, III visited the National Cultural Troupe at their hotel and
attended their performances. The Ambassador promised to facilitate initiatives
aimed at improving the National Cultural Troupe and promoting Liberia cultural
relations with Egypt. He extolled the Troupe for their superb performances
throughout the Festival. The Ambassador and the Director of International
Cultural Relations of Egypt discussed plans to strengthen Liberia-Egypt
Cultural Relations, including exchange of National Artifacts for display in
museums or public galleries as well as provision of training programs for the
Liberian Cultural Troupe. Additionally, Ambassador Wallace and Minister
McMillian discussed ways and means of utilizing the opportunities offered by
the Egyptian Cultural Authority to adequately enhance the Liberia National
Cultural Troupe. The Minister expressed thanks to the Ambassador for his
hospitality and tremendous support accorded the Troupe, as well as his
persistent presence around them throughout their stay in Egypt.
Written By: The Embassy of Liberia,
Cairo, Arab Republic of Egypt