Richmond Mayor Dwight C. Jones is in Senegal, Africa, with 13 other U.S. mayors as a delegation to the World Festival of Black Arts and Cultures.
The festival, being held for just the third time in 50 years, is host to more than 200 African-American leaders, according to a news release from Richmond. In all, the festival is expected to attract 60,000 participants from 80 countries.
The news release said the festival is an opportunity to highlight the role of art and entertainment in promoting economic development. Jones called Richmond a center of creativity and said he "will be letting everyone know about our international jazz festival and inviting delegations to visit Richmond."
The delegation will visit Gorée Island, a site that commemorates the history of the slave trade. Jones said that visiting the island as the sesquicentennial of the American Civil War approaches "is very meaningful to me and will enrich the whole experience for me."
Jones will be in Senegal through Friday. The festival is scheduled to run through Dec. 31.
Randy Hallman
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