The third edition of the four-day India-Africa Forum Summit, which is expected to be all about diplomacy and trade, will begin here with a spectacular cultural show on October 26.
The show, featuring 300 artistes and technicians, is expected to begin with contemporary and folk dances of India. Celebrity dance master Shiamak Davar will choreograph major parts of this segment.
The second segment will showcase African dance and music, for which several noted African artistes are being flown in.
In the third segment, Indian and African artistes will perform in harmony to create a fusion number which will mark the climax.
The Indian performers will highlight yoga, bhangra and other “soft power” exports of India.
The event has been designed by an organising team consisting of diplomats under Additional Secretary Syed Akbaruddin, and professional event management companies. “The idea behind the programme is to celebrate Africa’s achievements since decolonisation and India’s arrival in the international stage as a major power,” said a source closely involved with the programme.
The show will be harmonised by a single background score composed by musicians from Mumbai and will be presented by former Doordarshan newsreader Rini Simon Khanna, who was involved with the NAM summit of 1983.
Adding to the colour of diplomacy, the welcoming ceremony outside the main venue will be led by camels brought from Jaisalmer. “The decorated camels are here to showcase the historical fact that camels of Africa have been used since antiquity to transport camphor, spices, salt and incense from India throughout the continent of Africa and into Europe,” said the MEA source. Some sources hinted that ceremonial elephants might also be brought in.
