8 June-3 July 2004. This is an international festival of contemporary sub-Saharan music, dance and literature organised in conjunction with the Rome city authorities and African institutes and embassies. Events take place in venues including the La Sapienza university, the Teatro Vascello, Villa Pamphilj and the Academy of Dance. The programme opens with a conference at La Sapienza with the winner of the Nobel prize for literature Wole Soyinka, who will present his work "King Baabu" (8 June). For dance there is a company from Burkina Faso, the Compagnie Irene Tassembdo (23, 24 June), and then a work entitled Allah nest pas oblig, choreographed by Adriana Borriello with pupils of the National Academy of Dance, about the tragedy of child soldiers (30 June-3 July). The star of the music section is South African Lucky Dube at Villa Pamphilj (30 June). The initiative includes the selection of a new African play for a drama award; the winning work that will be staged and presented during the festival.