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Please find below the programmes for each year's editions. To view the programme, click on the year of your choice. It may happen that few changes are made to the programme before it starts.

Abene Festivalo 2010-2011 will be on the theme "Africa in the climate change debate" with the patronage of Younous Djiba, engineer in geology at SOCOCIM. View our first press release.

Abene Festivalo 2009-2010's theme was the "Culture and Peace for the future of tourism in Casamance".Mamady Keita was the very special guest of this edition but unfortunately had to leave before his performance was due, for health reasons. However the artists of Abene had prepared a fantastic welcoming ceremony on his arrival. To view, please click on this link.

Abene Festivalo 2008-2009 had very special guests performing this year: TOURE KUNDA is a band whose members all come from Casamance and have been very popular for over 20 years in Senegal but also in Europe and especially France where their music is being produced.
This year's theme is "Culture and Development : the Role of the Youth". How can the young generation can contribute the progress of culture in their country?

Abene Festivalo 2007-2008 ran from 26 December until 2 January 2008. Last yearn the committee set up various commissions to improve the organisation of the festival, so we hope you have noticed the difference if you visited Abene. The theme was "Illegal immigration" to remind and inform the people about all those Senegalese who lost their lives in the boats taking them to what they consider as "Golden Europe". In touching a very wide audience among Abene and throughout Senegal and Gambia, the Committee of the Festival wanted to bring high awareness about this "plague" which has been in newspaper's headlines throughout the world over the last few years.

Abene Festivalo 2006-2007 ran from 24 December until 2 January 2007. A mini Roots music festival was organised in parallel by Real Africa, a guesthouse in Bakau, the Gambia. The Roots festival was held just a few days before Abene Festivalo started. A discount rate was offered to those who would like to stay with them before heading to Abene.

'Abene Festivalo 2005-2006' took place from 26 December 2005 to 2 January 2006. After a very good rainy season for the village, everyone was ready to celebrate the harvesting season.

'Abene Festivalo 2004-2005' attracted enthusiasts from all countries who would like to see traditional arts performed by the diverse ethnicities living together in Senegal and particularly in Casamance: Mandinka, Diolas, Karoninke, Balante, Foula, Mandiak, Serere, Toucouleur, etc.

'Abene Festivalo 2003-2004' took place from 26 December 2003 to 4 January 2004 with the theme "Peace through Culture". It gathered artists from the different parts of the country and abroad, to encourage cultural exchange which always plays an important part in the village.

'Abene Festivalo 2002-2003' started on 26 December 2002 and finished on 2 January 2003 and gave as usual a very festive atmosphere in the village.

'Abene Festivalo 2001-2002' took place from 24 December 2001 until 4 January 2002, offering 10 days of music, dance and theatre as well as a selection of arts events and entertainment.