Algiers — The second edition of the Pan African Cultural Festival, otherwise called Panaf 2009, last Saturday evening, officially opened at the Sofia Square on Hivert Street in Algiers, capital of Algeria.

The event heralded the beginning of a series of activities lined up for the international event, which will last from the 5th to 20th July 2009. Panaf 2009 Algiers started with exhibition of arts and cultures of the 53 member countries of Africa amidst drumming and dancing, as it is related to the tradition and cultures of most African countries. This year's event is being attended by official representatives from all the countries in Africa, and beyond. Artists are drawn from across the world's fashion designers, traditional cultural groups as well as media practitioners.

The continental cultural event, which was presided over by the minister of Culture of Algeria, Khalida Toumi, on behalf of the president of the Islamic Republic of Algeria, Abdelaziz Bouteflika, began with a big cultural carnival. The Algerian Culture minister welcomed delegates to the event, and gave a detailed historic overview of the continental cultural forum with reference drawn to the 1966 Pan African Cultural festival held in the Senegalese capital of Dakar, and the subsequent one held in Algiers in 1969, organised by the government of Algeria.

The Algerian minister of Culture emphasised the importance of culture, especially in the Horn of Africa, saying "Panaf 2009 will be the privileged centre of ideas and achievements that ends clearly the vicious cycle of the rude or subtle alienations which still remain in our emergent universe." Besides the performance of the biggest figures in African and international art, she revealed that emblematic projects would be launched such as the Pan African Cultural Institute and a big Museum of Africa. She relayed a call by President Bouteflika for Africans to take their rightful places in the development of the continent and the world at large.