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Moroccan city of Fez to host ‘Sacred Music’ festival in September

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The ancient Moroccan city of Fez will be agog in September when it hosts the 27th edition of the annual Festival of Sacred World Music.

The festival, which is aimed at promoting a spirit of interfaith dialogue through music, according to the organisers, will take place between September 15 and 23, and will be a meeting ground for uniting artistes, thinkers, and travellers from across the world to celebrate the rich culture, spirituality, and art that Fez embodies.

The festival’s organizers revealed in a statement that the event’s programme which will feature a wide range of religious music artistes, including British singer Sami Yusuf, Indian flutist Jayanth Ambedkar, Turkish Folk band Janet & Jak Esim, among others.

The event will also pay tribute to Moroccan Sufi music through various performances, including the Sufi Night, which will take place on September 16 at the Jnan Sbil Garden.

“The Festival of Sacred World Music, an event born out of the city’s scholarly, artistic, and spiritual traditions, has been growing in popularity since its inception in 1994,” the statement said.

“The Festival of Sacred World Music is recognised by the United Nations and presents different genres, representing the world’s five major beliefs, Islam, Christianity, Judaism, Buddhism, and Hinduism.

“Over the course of its 26 editions, the festival has consistently highlighted a diverse array of artistic expressions, ranging from prestigious performances to soul-stirring Sufi Nights showcasing the historic significance as a former political and intellectual capital of Morocco which has preserved its legacy as a melting pot of cultures and ideas.

“The performances will take place at Fez’s historic sites, including the grand Bab Makina Square, the riads of the medina, and the city’s synagogue, among others, portraying cultural spaces which are brought to life through approximately 60 concerts and shows, promising an immersive experience of Fez’s rich heritage”, it added.

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Culture

Ghana’s Supreme Court dismisses suit challenging anti-LGBT bill

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Ghana’s Supreme Court has dismissed two separate suits challenging the legality of one of the proposed anti-LGBT legislations awaiting assent into law by the president.

The separate suits were filed by two legal practitioners, Amanda Odoi and Richard Sky, challenging the bill, seeking to declare it illegal and prevent the president from signing it.

The two cases had challenged the constitutionality of the Human Sexual Rights and Family Values Bill.

But in a ruling on Wednesday, the Supreme Court unanimously decided to dismiss the legal challenges to the new anti-LGBT legislation that has been criticised by rights groups.

The controversial bill was passed earlier this year by Ghanaian lawmakers with three years imprisonment for people identifying as LGBT and five years for forming or funding LGBT groups.

While dismissing the cases, presiding judge, Justice Avril Lovelace-Johnson, who delivered the ruling on behalf of the seven-member panel, said the cases were premature.

“Until there’s presidential assent, there is no act, the two cases were “unanimously dismissed,” she said.

The ruling is the latest blow to the LGBTQ community in Ghana and paves the way for the president to sign into law what many say is one of Africa’s most restrictive piece of anti-LGBTQ legislation.

President Nana Akufo-Addo, whose term in office ends on 7 January, had delayed signing it pending the outcome of the Supreme Court challenge but the judges said the case could not be reviewed until it had been signed it into law.

It expected that incoming president, John Mahama, will sign the bill into law as he had always expressed his support for the bill during his electioneering campaigns.

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UNESCO lists Ghana’s Kente cloth as cultural heritage

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The iconic Ghanaian Kente, a piece of clothing, has been recognized as a cultural heritage on UNESCO’s Representative List of Intangible Cultural Heritage of Humanity.

The global recognition, according to the UN body, is coming under the 2003 Convention for Safeguarding Intangible Cultural Heritage highlights the cultural and historical significance of the vibrant, handwoven textile.

In a citation on its website, UNESCO describes the Kente cloth as “originating from Ghana’s Asante and Ewe communities and renowned worldwide for its bold colors, intricate patterns, and deep symbolic meanings, embodying the creativity and identity of the Ghanaian people.”

Ghana’s Tourism Minister, Andrew Egyapa Mercer, described the recognition as a testament to Ghana’s commitment to preserving its cultural heritage.

“This achievement places Ghana at the forefront of global efforts to safeguard and celebrate cultural traditions,” he noted.

In a statement acknowledging the recognition, Mercer said the “Ministry of Tourism, Arts and Culture (MoTAC) expressed gratitude to President Nana Addo Dankwa Akufo-Addo, UNESCO, and the artisans, cultural institutions, and traditional authorities who contributed to this milestone.”

“Special acknowledgement is given to the Bonwire and Agotime communities for their enduring role as custodians of the craft.

“As Ghana celebrates this historic moment, MoTAC reaffirms its dedication to promoting and preserving the nation’s rich cultural legacy.”

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