Bamako, Mali - The eighth edition of the 'Festival on the Niger' opened Thursday in the Malian town of Segou, about 240 kilometres from the capital, Bamako, with many personalities,  including ministers witnessing the opening session, PANA learnt from a reliable source.

The Festival, which ends on Sunday, will feature contemporary dances, music, painting exhibition and artisanal products, a trade fair and an international symposium on 'Creating Development'.

Many musicians, including Salif Keita, Rokia Traore, Habib Koite, Haira Arby from Mali and foreign singers like Lokua Kanza from the Congo, Meiway from Côte d'Ivoire, Oxmo Puccino, a French rapper from Mali, Pape Diouf from Senegal and Bill Aka Kora from Burkina Faso, will perform at the festival.

Pana 17/02/2012