Βι¶ΉΤΌΕΔ

On New Year's Eve, the Βι¶ΉΤΌΕΔ's French for Africa service, Βι¶ΉΤΌΕΔ Afrique, will join forces with re-broadcasting partners in Burkina Faso, Cameroon, DR Congo and Togo to mount a major live programme, bringing together voices from key political, social and cultural figures and engaging audiences across Africa in discussions and debate.

Broadcast from Βι¶ΉΤΌΕΔ Afrique's newly launched bureau in Dakar, Senegal, from 22.00 GMT on Friday 31 December to 01.00 GMT on Saturday 1 January, the major live radio production, Le Tour d'Afrique des rΓ©veillons (Africa Tour of New Year Celebrations) will bring performances by and interviews with some of the biggest names in showbiz including Akon from Senegal, Patience Dabany from Gabon, Aicha Kone from Cote d'Ivoire, Sekouba Bambino and Bembeya Jazz from Guinea. The Βι¶ΉΤΌΕΔ Afrique programme will feature highlights from traditional speeches by heads of African states including Alpha CondΓ©, Guinea's new democratically elected president.

Head of Dakar Bureau, Βι¶ΉΤΌΕΔ Afrique, Ibrahima Diane, says: "Audiences will be at the heart of this 180-minute programme, discussing the past year and sharing their expectations of 2011. This has also been a great opportunity to work closely with leading journalists from our partner radio stations across the region as they will be linking with us throughout the programme. We are looking forward to a very special broadcasting event that will culminate 2010 and usher in 2011."

Le Tour d'Afrique des rΓ©veillons is produced with the participation of the Βι¶ΉΤΌΕΔ's re-broadcasting partner stations including radio Raga in DR Congo, Horizon and Pulsar in Burkina Faso, Radio Star in Cameroon and Radio Lome in Togo. It will feature links from Abidjan, Bujumbura, Conakry, Cotonou, Dakar, Johannesburg, Kigali, Kinshasa, Libreville, Lome, London, Ouagadougou, Paris and Younde. It will be broadcast on FM, shortwave, via CanalSat Horizons and Hotbird satellite.

Βι¶ΉΤΌΕΔ World Service Publicity