Premier Brown said, “For the first time this pivotal conference will be held in Africa, going back to its roots. Half of the conference will take place in Dar Es Saalam and the other half in Zanzibar. We are calling it ‘An African Homecoming’.”

Since its inception the goal of the African Diaspora Heritage Trail has been to educate the world on the cultural heritage of the African Diaspora.

The 2009 ADHT Conference will also include, for the first time, an ADHT Youth Summit. There are two students from Bermuda chosen to participate in the Youth Summit, Tori Smith from the Berkeley Institute and Asha Caisey from Somersfield Academy. Both students are looking forward to this once in a lifetime experience.

ADHT Executive Director Michelle Burrows said, “I am truly excited to be a part of this conference as we go back to our roots in Africa and include our young people on this journey. The African Diaspora connects us all, and I look forward to strengthening that connection.”

For more information about the 2009 ADHT conference visit www.adht.net.

‘Quincy Jones and Friends’ will be staged over three days from October 29 to 31 2009 at the Bermuda Maritime Museum, Royal Naval Dockyard. On the final night there will be a special performance of Michael Jackson’s Thriller, 25 years after the best-selling album of all-time was first produced by Quincy Jones.

During this historic weekend of performances, Bermuda’s Premier Ewart Brown will honour Quincy Jones’ lifetime contributions to culture and humanity with the African Diaspora Heritage Trail Award. Jones changed the way music and philanthropy interacts through his star-studded collaboration We Are the World, the best-selling single of all time. Produced and arranged by Quincy Jones, this single raised $63 million for Ethiopian Famine Relief and shined a much-needed spotlight on the Ethiopian drought.

He continues his worldwide philanthropic efforts through music, in collaboration with institutions such as Harvard University, entertainers including Bono and Oprah Winfrey, and through his personal foundation, The Quincy Jones Foundation.

Quincy Jones said, ‘It is my distinct honour to receive the African Diaspora Award from Premier Brown and the people of Bermuda and to join with them to celebrate the beauty and wonder of Bermuda during the 14th Annual Bermuda Music Festival. The line-up of artists that we have assembled for this year’s festival are some of the most talented performers of their generation and, like me, understand and respect the diverse musical and spiritual influences that are reflected in Bermuda’s rich cultural history. I promise that this year’s festival will be one that you definitely will not want to miss. It’s going to be hot.’

The Bermuda Music Festival, sponsored by the Bermuda Department of Tourism, broke all attendance records last year when Beyoncé and Alicia Keys performed on the island.

This October, the Festival will take its musical presentation to another level by showcasing the many talents of living legend Quincy Jones, a 27-time Grammy Award winner, with a record 79 Grammy nominations. The prolific Jones will conduct, arrange and perform with artists who share his passions, many of whom he has mentored or guided at different points in their careers.

The line-up, like Quincy’s own career, mixes a broad variety of talent, range and style. The elite group of musicians share both musical roots and, in some cases personal ties, with the man who has collaborated with talents as diverse as Frank Sinatra, Will Smith and Ella Fitzgerald. The 2009 Bermuda Music Festival artists, with over 45 Grammys between them, are:

• Patti Austin – A beloved singer and member of Quincy’s extended family, Patti has worked with Quincy since she was 4 years old.
• Erykah Badu – Acclaimed, multiple Grammy Award winner.
• James Ingram – Versatile soul musician and acclaimed vocalist.
• Wyclef Jean – A multi-platinum Haitian-American musician, actor, producer and social entrepreneur.
• John Legend – Six-time Grammy award winner, recording artist, musician and actor.
• Michael McDonald – Michael is known around the world as a founding member of both the Doobie Brothers and Steely Dan.
• Kenny Rogers – One of the first four artists to appear in We Are the World, the best-selling single of all time, produced by Quincy Jones.
• Naturally Seven – An innovative R&B music group with a distinctive cappella style.

The artists will perform with an international orchestra, assembled by Quincy and comprised of some of the music world’s most respected talents.

Tickets for the Music Festival are on sale now, and are available are available from BermudaTix ticketing centres (iStore, Reid Street, Hamilton & Fabulous Fashions, Heron Bay Plaza).

The 5-day conference at the Fairmont Southampton hotel will be chaired by Hollywood actor Danny Glover.

The dates were chosen to coincide with Bermuda’s Cup Match and Emancipation Day celebrations.