Innovations in 2019 Edition:

FCFA 15m Toyota Car Up for Grabs at Limbe FESTAC 

-Try Your Luck; Rush for Raffle Tickets in L’be, Buea, Tiko, D’la&Y’de

-The 6th edition of the FESTAC has been billed for April 2019

By TichaMelanis in Limbe

Steering Committee members announcing the 6th edition of the Limbe FESTAC

The sixth edition of the Limbe Festival of Arts and Culture has been scheduled to take place from the 6-13 of April 2019 with the theme: ‘Taking Limbe FESTAC to the next level’.  The major innovation in 2019 will be the introduction of a raffle draw where lucky winners will win handsome prizes including a brand new 15 million fcfa Toyota Yaris car. Tickets for the Tombola will be out by March 1, 2019 and will cost 1000FCFA. They can be got at the three sub-divisional councils in Limbe, the Tiko, Kumba, Buea and at the Younde and Douala city councils.

                The Government Delegate of Limbe, Andrew MotangaMonjimba, on Wednesday 20 February announced the holding of the 6th edition of the FESTAC at a press briefing in Limbe.

                Speaking in the conference hall of the City Council, Andrew Motanga said the announcement is coming a lot earlier this time because of the lessons learnt from past editions with the most important being inadequate preparation due to shortage of time.

                Motanga who doubles as the chairman of the steering committee of the Limbe FESTAC said the decision to introduce a raffle draw in this year’s festival is with the aim to get the population more involved in the events, especially the grassroots populations. It is also to diversify the sources of income for the FESTAC, he said. 

                According to the Secretary General of City Council, Charles ArreyNkongho, the draws shall be made up of fifty prizes with 35 being consolation prizes which include Standing fans, Juice mixers, Electric irons, Android phones amongst others.  The main prizes are ranked from 1-8 and include 32 inches flat screen TV sets, two laptops, a gas cooker with six burners, two deep Freezers, Nanfang  and/or Sanili bikes and a brand new Toyota Yaris car 2018 model worth 15million FCFA.

                Raffle tickets shall be sold in the councils in Limbe, Ideneau, Tiko, CDC and SONARA. Other sales points will be in Yaounde and Douala, the SG announced.

Stating that Limbe FESTAC is now an institution and a strong legacy that has come to stay due to its ability to resist difficulties and uncertainties, the GD hailed the invaluable role of the press in selling the FESTAC project to the wide world since its inception in 2014. He however admitted that the relationship and collaboration with the press has not been the best in the past two editions to the current socio-economic crisis.

                Motanga said the Limbe FESTAC success story is largely the result of the media’s sensitization and mobilization force which has gone a long way to make the FESTAC a leading Festival in the country and the central African region. He however said there is still need for robust mobilization.

                The press briefing was also opportunity for the GD to appreciate the efforts of other stakeholders in the success of the FESTAC. He mentioned notably the CDC and SONARA as stakeholders who have stood by the City Council since the inception of the festival.

                Worries raised at the press briefing concerned aspects like security due to the imposed lockdowns by pro-separatists and the involvement of IDPs among others. The GD said persons are responsible for their security and should know best how to secure themselves in the present context.  He said the City Council is not fighting anybody’s ideology and the non-respect of lockdown depends on the population and not the city council. 

                Hon. Gladys Etombi, MP for Fako East Constituency and Mayors of the three councils in Limbe joined their voices to that of the GD to appeal for a massive turnout of the population in this year’s FESTAC. They exhorted the population not to let others dictate on them what to do in their town.

                The GD used the opportunity to beckon on the business community to come and showcase their products on the stands at the FESTAC village. Meanwhile he at once thanked the Limbe population for their support during the previous editions.