FESTAC was a deep-rooted statement of intent by Africa and the Black race, to underscore the ‘people-for-power’ mandate and its undertones from African leaders mobilizing under the auspices of the Organization of African Unity (OAU) now African Union (AU).
Will FESTAC ever happen again? That’s the multi-million dollars question. Has the spirit that inspired FESTAC lost steam and dimmed? Sadly, in an age of ‘history-in-hurry’, aided by technology-fueled GLOBALIZATION, waiting endlessly for the next FESTAC, is a tragic story for Africa.
FESTAC. The preferred acronym for “WORLD BLACK AND AFRICAN FESTIVAL OF ARTS & CULTURE”.
Simplified to just its optics, it was the ‘Cultural Olympics’ of the Black Race. A conglomeration of related original African identities globally, the maiden edition of FESTAC was hosted by Senegal, in 1967. It was a mandatory roll-call for the validation of affirmative action by the emerging nation-states of Africa, as the carpet of colonialism was rolling up across the continent.
The gathering of ‘black nationalities’ was the first authentic expression of ‘emancipation-from-being’ to a desired ‘freedom-to-be’.
FESTAC was a deep-rooted statement of intent by Africa and the Black race, to underscore the ‘people-for-power’ mandate and its undertones from African leaders mobilizing under the auspices of the Organization of African Unity (OAU) now African Union (AU).
Festac created an opportunity for the Black Race to conglomerate and ‘reason together’. The intellectual dimensions were anchored on symposia that ferociously interrogated subject matters across disciplines; aimed at validating and reinvigorating organic African heritage, while setting the tone for the tempo of Africa’s unfolding ‘new future’.
For one month, in 1977, Nigeria played host to the 2nd edition of FESTAC, with a record attendance and participation of 56 countries of Africa and the DIASPORA. Over 15,000 active participants were engaged in songs, dance. music, art, exhibitions, theatrical performances and more. The COLLOQUIM was the melting pot of ideas and philosophy of African intellectual thoughts. The IDIA mask of ancient Bini Kingdom, the emblem of FESTAC 77, was ubiquitous in varying applications and easily the most recognizable visual of the global gathering of the Black race.
The World couldn’t pretend not to notice the RENNAISANCE that FESTAC was berthing. Africa was reconnecting and being ‘reborn’.
The DIASPORA found a special essence in FESTAC, with justified excitement. Nigeria was the centre of the World. “Tourism” was an understatement for the FESTAC ‘invasion’. PILGRIMAGE felt more appropriate to describe the phenomenon.
Then 1987 was to be the third edition of FESTAC. That year came and passed. Nothing happened. Since then, the Black Race has been in ‘waiting’ mode. And the question has been – “when next?”. 50 years after, no answer to this simple question.
Will FESTAC ever happen again? That’s the multi-million dollars question. Has the spirit that inspired FESTAC lost steam and dimmed? Sadly, in an age of ‘history-in-hurry’, aided by technology-fueled GLOBALIZATION, waiting endlessly for the next FESTAC, is a tragic story for Africa.
The argument that FESTAC will be too expensive for any one African country to pull off today is noted. However, if there is a WILL, FESTAC can be REIMAGINED and it can still happen.
50 years after FESTAC 77, the BLACK RACE waits on AFRICA to do the needful.
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