We are boldly proving to the international community that culture is not separate from development; culture is development. Every drumbeat, every design, and every textile is an economic asset. This entire framework serves three key areas that define our mission: Impact, Inclusion, and Changing Lives. If a festival does not impact the grandmother weaving in the village, if it does not include the youth coding in the city, if it does not change lives, it is not FESTAC.
Senegal 2026 is not simply another festival on the calendar. It is a holy homecoming. It is a return to the very birthplace of the modern African cultural renaissance. Sixty years after that historic gathering convened by President Léopold Sédar Senghor, Africa will once again gather on the historic shores of Dakar to celebrate our heritage, our creativity, and our shared future. History will be made once more, and Zimbabwe must be there in full force.
1. Introduction: From Europe to the Smoke That Thunders
Distinguished guests, honourable government officials, representatives of the diplomatic corps, leaders of the creative economy, elders, youth, brothers, and sisters.
I STAND before you today having just arrived from the historic, winding waterways of Venice, Italy, and the sun-drenched, glamorous promenades of Nice, France. For the past weeks, we have travelled across Europe to advance the critical global discourse on African culture. But let me share a profound truth with you: as magnificent as the grand podiums of Europe may be, there is a distinct shift in the air when you return home. There is an undeniable spiritual gravity when you touch down at the very foot of Africa.
I have travelled from the canals of Venice to the magnificent land of the spectacular Victoria Falls—the historic, legendary Mosi-oa-Tunya, “The Smoke That Thunders.” What a sublime, perfect podium this is! Standing in Zimbabwe, a nation defined by its roaring waters, ancient stone heritage, and unbreakable spirit, we find the perfect place to deliver this timely address.
There is no better icebreaker for global development, no grander opening for continental prosperity, than the unapologetic celebration of African culture. Our heritage is not a sideshow; it is the main event. It is the force that breaks the ice of historical divides, warms the room of global diplomacy, and sets the stage for Africa to claim its rightful destiny.
“FESTAC AFRICA is where Africa meets itself and introduces itself to the world.” — Engr. Yinka Abioye
2. The Legacy and Renaissance of FESTAC AFRICA
To understand the magnitude of the vision we carry today, we must anchor ourselves in the deep waters of our history. FESTAC was born out of a sacred necessity—the absolute refusal to let the global African family be separated from its roots. It was designed to reunite our continent and its vast diaspora through the unstoppable medium of art, intellect, and shared identity.
- 1966: The flame was first ignited with the First World Festival of Black Arts (FESMAN) in Dakar, Senegal, championed by the visionary philosopher-president, Léopold Sédar Senghor.
- 1977: The movement crossed the continent to Lagos, Nigeria, for the historic Second World Black and African Festival of Arts and Culture (FESTAC ’77) under the leadership of former President of Nigeria, Chief Olusegun Obasanjo (GCFR); establishing an immortal benchmark for global pan-African solidarity.
After a long hiatus, we stepped forward to orchestrate a grand renaissance of this movement. We knew that a continent without its own cultural narrative is a continent building on borrowed sand. Look at how this annual cultural event has grown from strength to strength since its rebirth, expanding into a magnificent global cultural unifier:
- 2022: Reborn and awakened in the historic, spice-scented setting of Zanzibar.
- 2023: Advancing the flame to the safari capital of Arusha, Tanzaniaund
- 2024: Igniting the lakeside energy and creative pulse of Kisumu, Kenya.
- 2025: Crossing to West Africa on the deeply historic and welcoming shores of Accra, Ghana.
From East to West, we have proven that this annual cultural milestone is growing from strength to strength, dismantling artificial borders, and rewriting how the world sees Africa.
3. The Three Powerful Pillars: Culture as Development
As a statesmanlike movement, FESTAC AFRICA does not view culture as mere entertainment or static performance. We view it as a strategic, systemic engine. Our movement stands immovably upon three powerful pillars:
- Culture as Identity: Knowing who we are dictates how we show up in the world. Our identity is our sovereign shield.
- Tourism as Economic Development: When the world comes to experience our heritage, they invest in our infrastructure, our hotels, our aviation, and our artisans.
- Trade as Sustainable Prosperity: Culture creates the unique products, services, and connections that fuel intra-African commerce and global export.
We are boldly proving to the international community that culture is not separate from development; culture is development. Every drumbeat, every design, and every textile is an economic asset. This entire framework serves three key areas that define our mission: Impact, Inclusion, and Changing Lives. If a festival does not impact the grandmother weaving in the village, if it does not include the youth coding in the city, if it does not change lives, it is not FESTAC.
“When culture moves, tourism follows. When tourism grows, trade follows. When trade grows, nations prosper.” — Engr. Yinka Abioye
4. Zimbabwe’s Liberation Legacy & The SADC Opportunity
The strategic expansion of FESTAC AFRICA into the Southern African Development Community (SADC) opens massive doors for regional integration, harmonized market access, and a powerful creative economy.
Let it be stated clearly: Zimbabwe occupies a sacred, non-negotiable place in Africa’s liberation history. The immense sacrifices made by the iconic heroes and heroines of this nation contributed not only to the freedom of Zimbabwe, but to the total advancement of African dignity everywhere. As we look forward to the grand opening of the African Liberation Museum in Harare, we are powerfully reminded that culture and liberation are inseparable companions in the African story. True liberation begins in the mind, and culture is the ultimate custodian of that freedom.
Our critical entry point into the SADC region has been our foundational collaboration with the African Forum for Cultural Diplomacy (AFfCD). Through the brilliant, dedicated efforts of the AFfCD, the spirit of FESTAC AFRICA first stepped onto Zimbabwean soil via the historic, culturally vibrant city of Bulawayo. That successful engagement laid the foundational framework, and our unyielding vision is to see this cultural flame spread into every corner, town, and province of Zimbabwe in the future.
5. The Golden Horizon: Senegal 2026, Nigeria 2027, and ZIMBABWE?
We are standing on the precipice of monumental, historic milestones. I invite every single delegate, attendee, and participant in this room to look toward the horizon and join us on this epic journey:
- The Significance of Senegal (December, 2026): Senegal 2026 is not simply another festival on the calendar. It is a holy homecoming. It is a return to the very birthplace of the modern African cultural renaissance. Sixty years after that historic gathering convened by President Léopold Sédar Senghor, Africa will once again gather on the historic shores of Dakar to celebrate our heritage, our creativity, and our shared future. History will be made once more, and Zimbabwe must be there in full force.
- The Home of the Movement: Nigeria (November 2027): We will then march forward to Lagos, Nigeria, returning to the legendary home of FESTAC ’77 to host an unprecedented continental gathering of minds, makers, and masters.
And looking beyond, there is an immense, undeniable appetite to bring FESTAC AFRICA to ZIMBABWE, marking the historic first time the festival lands in the SADC region! The timing is flawless, designed to align beautifully with either the African Union Mid-Year Summit or the momentous opening of the African Liberation Museum.
We thank Zimbabwe deeply for expressing its initial interest to host this prestigious global event. However, a presidential vision requires presidential execution. An opportunity of this magnitude demands decisive, immediate action. I call upon the leadership, the government, and the private sector stakeholders here today to show firm, unshakeable commitment. We must sign the official declarations and formally secure the hosting rights now. We want Zimbabwe to take on this challenge boldly, ensuring you have the runway, the time, and the resources to plan and execute a world-class event that brings the entire world to SADC.
6. A Presidential and Government Call to Action for Local Growth
I want to highly commend the organizers of the brilliant event we are participating in today. Your resilience, creativity, and dedication to celebrating heritage are precisely what keeps our continental narrative alive. I encourage you from the bottom of my heart: keep going, keep growing, and never give up! This platform belongs to the people of Zimbabwe, and the public should stand squarely behind it with immense pride, using it as a megaphone to showcase their rich culture.
To the local organizers: the clock is ticking. Start mobilizing, structuring, and organizing diverse cultural groups from every cultural background across Zimbabwe right now to prepare for Dakar, Senegal, in December 2026.
Furthermore, I call upon the Government of Zimbabwe to aggressively fund and support grassroots festivals like this one. These initiatives are not mere entertainment; they are strategic national assets that proudly showcase African—and specifically Zimbabwean—culture to the world stage.
We must explicitly celebrate His Excellency, the President of Zimbabwe, for his visionary, unwavering support of the youth and women of this nation. By putting his foot forward to promote Zimbabwe as a premier global destination for tourism and trade, the President aligns perfectly with the core strategic pillars of the FESTAC AFRICA Festival.
7. A Memorable Tribute to our Bridgemakers: Dr. Walter Mzembi & Advocate Pardon Tapfumaneyi
A continental vision is only as good as the leaders who execute it behind the scenes, far from the cameras and the applause. Behind every successful movement are individuals who choose service over recognition like the President of AFFCD, Dr Walter Mzembi. In spite of personal challenges that you all know about, he still made sure his Secretary General, Adv. Pardon Tapfumaneyi, was tasked to carry out the mandate that has gathered us here today.
He is a true son of the soil, who seeks only the best for Zimbabwe and for Africa: As stated by His Excellency the President’s mantra “A nation is build by its people “_”Nyika inovakwa nevene vayo, ilizwe lakhiwa ngabanikazi balo”_?
.His very capable assistant advocate. Pardon Tapfumaneyi, affectionately known as “The Duke,” is one of those rare, transcendent leaders.
As the Secretary-General of the AFfCD, the ZIMA Diaspora Representative, the FESTAC AFRICA Zimbabwe Ambassador and Mandatee, and the ZAA Chairman, his commitment and dedication are unparalleled.
Adv. Tapfumaneyi has become far more than an ambassador. He has become a bridge. A bridge between the Diaspora and the homeland. A bridge between Zimbabwe and FESTAC AFRICA. A bridge between vision and execution. His unwavering commitment demonstrates what can happen when one individual takes ownership of a continental dream and treats it as a personal mission. He takes even the smallest tasks so personally, pouring his heart and energy into ensuring absolute perfection.
If Africa had more leaders as dedicated, focused, and driven as “The Duke,” our continent would already be centuries ahead. The Government of Zimbabwe and the diaspora community are incredibly fortunate to have a dedicated representative of his caliber. Through his leadership, and the vital collaboration with ZIMA—who will champion this collaboration—the foundation for FESTAC AFRICA FESTIVAL in Zimbabwe has been laid. If the core steering committee matches his relentless drive, hosting the festival in Zimbabwe will undoubtedly be a historic, world-class success.
Distinguished Guests, Ladies and Gentlemen,
Please join me in acknowledging a very important partnership — that is between FESTAC AFRICA RENAISSANCE FESTIVAL and the Zimbabwe Indigenous Miners Association.(ZIMA)
Mrs. Silingiwe Masuku, President of ZIMA, and your team, I thank you sincerely. Your tireless work made it possible to bring FESTAC AFRICA to Zimbabwe and to activate it through ZIMA.
Many may not immediately see how a cultural body and a mining association can work together. But you understood it from day one: culture and mining intersect. Mining is the backbone of our economy, and this Mining Indaba will set the tone for everything that follows.
From FESTAC AFRICA’s side, we give you our word: we will use every platform we have to advance the interests of ZIMA throughout Africa and beyond.
8. Gratitude & The Final Charge
A global movement requires an exceptional crew to steer the ship through changing tides. I extend my deepest gratitude to the FESTAC AFRICA Board, our advisory board, management, staff, and our phenomenal Global Ambassadors. Thank you for your tireless sacrifice, your time, and your energy to ensure each destination is a triumph.
Today, let us leave this gathering with a renewed, unbreakable commitment.
- Let Government work hand-in-hand with the private sector.
- Let cultural leaders work alongside business titans.
- Let our vibrant youth work alongside our wise elders.
- Let the Diaspora work seamlessly alongside communities at home.
- Let Zimbabwe prepare for Dakar 2026.
- Let Africa prepare for Nigeria 2027.
And let the glorious journey toward FESTAC in Zimbabwe begin today!
The declaration must be signed.
The partnerships must be forged.
The planning must commence.
The world is waiting, Zimbabwe is ready, and Mosi-oa-Tunya is calling. Let us make Zimbabwe the travel destination of choice in for the world soon.
MY AFRICA! YOUR AFRICA! OUR AFRICA!
SIYABONGA! MERCI! ASANTE SANA! TATEN! MERCI! ASANTE SANA! TATENDA!
