The tenth edition of the forthcoming bi-annual International Roots Home Coming festival will be held under the theme "Celebrating African Unity," The Gambia’s Tourism and Culture Minister unveiled Tuesday at a press briefing held at the National Council for Arts and Culture.

Minister Fatou Mass Jobe-Njie said at least 2.5 million dalasis is required to host this year’s event, thus appealing sponsors to intervene.

The Roots Home Coming Festival is the upshot of ‘Roots,’ a book authored by an America American Alex Hailey, who traces his origin to The Gambia, Juffureh, the birthplace of Kunta Kinteh who was kidnapped a teenage boy and sold to slavery.

Since inception, the festival has attracted a global attention as it promotes promote cultural tourism and afford a unique opportunity for our mislaid brothers and sisters discover and rediscover their origin as Africans.

"Many African descendants in Diaspora - America, Europe, the Caribbean and Australia –are expected to grace this year’s event," Minister Jobe-Njie said. "The event is a well recognised event and features prominently in the cultural calendar of the smiling coast of The Gambia."

The event is scheduled to take place from February 4-10, 2011 and the main highlights will be the opening ceremony and carnival to be held July 22nd Square in Banjul, the pilgrimage to Albreda and Juffureh where festival participants will experience the roots heritage trail, and "Futampaf" African rites of passage to be held in Kanilai, birth place of the President of the republic.

"This year’s festival has assumed added dimension as it will not only celebrate ten years of roots but will also coincide with Black History Month in February 2011," Minister Jobe Njie said. "The tenth edition is also very special in that it will be held at a time when the tourist season is in a full gear and the tourists are expected to part take in the festivities.

"The international roots festival has the potential to foster understanding between people of diverse cultural orientations and also engender international peace and understanding, Minister Jobe-Njie said.