Mboka Festival – Gambia

IMPORTANT ANNOUNCEMENT ON MBOKA 2020 AND THE G-PAC CONFERENCE

On Tuesday 17 March, President Barrow announced an immediate suspension of all public gatherings until further notice due to the COVID – 19 global health challenge.

We have no doubt that this would have been a wonderful conference, the presentations and the comments and communication from panel presenters has been enthusiastic and supportive. Moving forward, will involve some changes, that we hope that most, if not all of you can be part of.

Mboka Festival of Arts Culture and Sport 2021 is due to take place at the end of January/February 2021. It will also be an election year, and energies of some of the team will be prioritising this. Therefore at this stage we are proposing to have a one day commemorative event as part of the 2021 festival to honour the 121^st year of the first Pan African Conference (which took place in July 1900 in London) and to announce G-PAC 2022.

The next G-PAC, was already under discussion subtitled ‘Celebrating African Women’, since we hope to have the OWWA – Organisation of Women Writers Africa at the same time (tbc).

Our women focused papers and panels are great (as you can tell from the schedule) and some of the other presentations already have a women’s focus.

The date for G-PAC 2022 will return to end of May 2022 – exact dates to be confirmed.

Please stay well and take precautions as necessary. We hope that you can join us for the new event and conference dates. If not, we will be using this additional time to ensure ways of your involvement if you cannot be physically present. One way to do this is to set up a discussion forum around G-PAC, that would include perhaps some discussion on some of the proposed presentations if the presenters are willing to share them. Please let us know If this is of interest.

We will stay in touch with developments as they unfold, mainly via facebook and twitter. We also have a what’s app group that will now serve for the forum as well as updates on the festival in 2021 and the festival and conference in 2022. Please let us know if you would like to join this group and we’ll send a link

Regards and best wishes

MBOKA Team

LOGISTICAL AND BOOKING INFORMATION

Flights, Visas, Vaccinations, Hotel Booking Form and

Conference Registration Form

Visas
Latest information issued 22 September 2019 from the Ministry of Foreign Affairs(below).
It does not apply to those with USA passports.

The Ministry of Foreign Affairs, International Cooperation and Gambians abroad has announced that in line with the new free visa policy adopted by the Ministry of Tourism and Culture, Gambia is now a free visa zone for all chartered and scheduled flights. The new visa policy applies to citizens from all Commonwealth countries, European Union countries, all African countries and Baltic States. Similarly, Belgian citizens are allowed to travel to The Gambia with their identity cards. The ministry also informed all the diplomatic missions, community and international organisation that visa upon arrival attracts no charges.

https://travel.state.gov/content/travel/en/international-travel/International-Travel-Country-Information-Pages/TheGambia.html

https://sn.usembassy.gov/u-s-citizen-services/traveling-to-senegal/

Vaccinations
Malaria tablets – a must – although many people take just natural medication instead but Gambian mosquitos, especially on the river can be vicious!
Yellow fever – recommended (usually say that it is only needed if coming from a country that has Yellow Fever –Senegal has Yellow Fever
It’s expensive but it does last for 20 years
Typhoid
Hepatitis
Meningitis – it is not ‘essential’ but a fellow regular traveler to The Gambia contracted it and had to spend time in hospital and, so it is worth getting advice on this.

WHO guidelines are good But of course – proper medical advice should also be taken.

Accommodation
Mboka Festival are using the Metzy Residence Hotel and Hypolink Apartment Village. If they become full, the conference organisers will secure an overflow hotel of similar standard and price. The first stage is to complete the reservation form and send to us. No payments are required to reserve. The hotel reservation form can be downloaded from our website
Please make sure that you inform us of any special needs

Metzy Residence Hotel (Conference Hotel)
Single occupancy£46 / U$60 incl. continental breakfast & free 24 hour wifi
Double occupancy £62/ U$80 incl. continental breakfast & free 24 hour wifi

Hypolink Village:
(Walking distance to Metzy Hotel)
(These are double beds not twin beds)
1 room Double bedded Apartment: £50/ U$64 (includes breakfast)
2 rooms Double bedded Apartment: £86 / U$110 (includes breakfast)

Flights into Banjul International Airport

Within Africa
Kenya Airways
SN Brussells
Ethiopian Airlines
Kenya Airlines
RAM
Turkish Airlines

From USA
Flights into Banjul
From: New York
SN Brussels
RAM
Turkish Airlines
TAP Portugal

Turkish Airlines have a wide network transiting Istanbul
TAP Portugal depart from Washington DC

From Europe
Gambia Experience – from London Gatwick Tuesday only (direct)
via London into Gatwick Airport/overnight stay at own cost. From about 60 at airport

TAP – Air Portugal
Vueling (via Barcelona) for long stopovers offer lounge tickets for euros 24 Lounge ticket is suggested
Tui (via Amsterdam)
SN Brussels ( via Brussel)
Laudamotion (Dusseldorf-Banjul)
Turkish Airlines (via Istanbul)
Royal Air Maroc (RAM) via Morrocco

Please check luggage allowance and stopover allowances
(Some of the airlines include a free stopover; if the stopover is overnight/more than 6 hours they have to provide a hotel)

Flights into Dakar
There are more options into Dakar
For some airlines you can also check to do an open jaw (into Banjul, out of Dakar)

The organisers cannot be held responsible and cannot make any recommendations for any flight bookings made on the airlines suggested on this list. We are just informing you of what we know is available

Transfers between airport and hotel
For arrivals into Banjul airport the transfers between airport- hotel is free to be arranged by Mboka Festival (Gambia Experience include a free stopover to hotels)
For Arrivals into Dakar there will be a charge based on the number of people ( approx a 7 hour road journey)

Excursions
The information for tours will also be uploaded onto the site this year

The Dakar trip all inclusive cost will be approximately £350/US$455 (tbc -this is on the high side) and will include
A visit to the Museum of Black Civilizations and an optional visit to Goree Island or the Dak’Art Biennale
3 days, 4 nights
(there may be a 2 day 3 night option which we are checking).

Other excursions in The Gambia will be on offer

Useful, independent information site
Accessgambia.com

Conference Package

Includes :
Souvenir conference bag with conference pack and souvenir brochure
Airport transfers, transport to conference (if needed), Welcome reception, lunches, refreshments, Farewell dinner,
Conference registration From £50/$65-£300/$390

https://mboka-global-panafrican-conference.eventbrite.co.uk

or visit our website to download the conference registration and hotel accommodation forms.

https://www.mbokafestival.org/global-pan-african-conference.html

We look forward to your participation in the 1st Bi- Annual G-PAC Conference

https://kadijasesay.sablelitmag.org/wp-content/uploads/2020/01/gpac-logistical-information-1-1.docx

Mboka Festival hotel booking forms for Metzy and Hypolink

http://mboka festival hotel booking forms for metzy and hypolink

G-PAC Conference Registration – 25 and 26 MayDownload

G-PACK REGISTRATION BOOKING FORM
https://kadijasesay.sablelitmag.org/wp-content/uploads/2020/01/G-PAC-CONFERENCE-REGISTRATION-updated-1-1.docx