The year 2007 will be marked by a series of programmes for cultural and commercial exchanges between Senegal and Barbados. To facilitate this relationship between the two countries, an African Village named the Wallo Kingdom Village will be assembled at the Sherbourne Conference Centre from August 22 – August 29 as part of the programme of the Global Dialogue.

The Village is owned and was conceptualized by Cheikh Mohamadou Bamba Cissé, a leading Senegalese International Marketing Consultant with over ten years experience in the area of establishing and promoting cultural and business links between Africa and the Diaspora.

The objective of the Wallo Village is to exhibit a large range of Senegalese products for export to the local market but more importantly to facilitate cultural exchanges and establish business links between Africa and the Caribbean.

Each hut is made from Senegalese soft rattan and possesses the name of an African leader who fought against the establishment of colonialism. The Village will comprise six huts and one business workshop which will be featured as follows:

Culture Sector (2 huts)

• Bring new skills to the fashion business environment
• Add value to the music industry by using traditional instruments from Africa
• Formulate a joint program to promote traditional West African dances in the Caribbean

Craft Sector (2 huts)

• Re-valuate hand-crafted products
• Install a centre for small technologies
• Finance a training program for craft manager
• Exchange skills and set up distribution networks of products
• Create opportunities for the branding and production of luxury craft products

Tourism Sector (1 hut)

• Promote business tourism between Africa and the Caribbean Islands
• Manage a source of reliable data for both destination
• Promote investments and services adapted to the environment of such clientele
• Develop charter and cargo flights between West African and Barbados

Agro Industry Sector (1 hut)

• Develop the market for dried fruit
• Establish the fair trade label for dried fruit
• Source funding for agricultural equipment
• Trace the possibilities of establishing new packaging technologies

The business workshop will be held under the patronage of the Investor’s Café.

Read more history of the Wallo Kingdom Village...