Twenty-seven years after the hosting of the 2nd edition of the World Festival of Black Arts and African Culture in Lagos, all is once more set for the celebration of the third edition of the historic festival better known as FESTAC. The Republic of Senegal recently announced in Nairobi, Kenya, its readiness to host the festival in June 2007.

Maine Birane Diouf, Senegalese Minister of Culture and Classified Historical Heritage told African Ministers of Culture at the just concluded second edition of African Union Ministers of Culture Conference held in Nairobi between December 14 and 15, that Senegal is now ready to revive the celebration of the Festival which he described as the treasure trove of African culture.

In a leaflet circulated at the conference, Abdoulaye Wade, the Senegalese President was quoted as saying that “the celebration of black Creations in this land of Africa, cradle of humanity is by itself a tribute to universal man.” WADE said “that Africa through history has contributed in the development and fertilization of other civilizations, therefore it is indisputable that Africa and its diaspora could not celebrate arts and culture without fitting this in a dialogue of civilization,” he was quoted in the leaflet.

Diouf, the culture Minister said that the “Festival of Black Arts is intended to be a powerful symbol of return to the roots, a reunion with the brothers of the diaspora in a shared will to show to the Universe the richness, vivacity and variety of Cultural values resulting from negritude”. He told delegates at the Culture Minister Conference that “through this celebration of the black world’:creative genius and works of the spirit, that Africa would be present at the world’s renaissance.”

Diouf. through the leaflet to the conference also maintained that among the objectives of the Festival is to make it a showcase of excellence for the fertile creativity of the black world and field for moral rearmament and mobilization of opportunities for the development of Africa. He further stated that the Senegalese rendezvous is to put an end to African economic dependency and political marginalization by relying on culture, which he said is the true lever of developments.

The first edition of FESTAC Celebration was actually staged in Senegal in April, 1966. Diouf told the Nairobi Conference that the major objective of Leoped sedar senehor, the Senegales President who initiated the historic festival was not merely the defence and illustration of the Black African World values. “But that its philosophy is to build a space fo friendly meetings and reunions around the Arts but above all, a space fo prospective thinking in the place of Africa and the Diaspora in the world stemming from culture”, he concluded.

The successful hosting of the first edition by Senegal emboldened Nigeria to stage the second edition of the festival in 1977. The event which took place in Lagos then Nigerian capital, gave birth to such projects like the FESTAC village, National Theatre among other things. According to Diouf, the two previous festivals have shown the richness, the livelihood, the dynamism and the great creativity of Black Culture. The third Dakar Festival, he said will capitalize on those assets to mobilize for a true African renaissance. This he said, “will energize the continent to take charge its own destiny and play its genuine role in the world.”

Diouf concluded that in the 2007 festival, Africa, which he described as the cradle of humanity, will in solidarity with the Diaspora have decided to mobilize consciences with no complexes or exclusiveness to assume its rightful place in the world with or despite globalization.
 
He used the conference to appeal to African nations to support the Dakar 2007 Festival. According to him it is one sure one “to break away from insensate materialism through a dialogue of diverse cultures”

Meanwhile, the African Union Ministers of Culture Conference has noted in its declaration at Nairobi, that FESTAC 2007 in Dakar is a festival for all Africans. According to the Nairobi declaration, the conference noted cultural activities being organized in the continent including “the third world Festival of Black Arts by Senegal”, and encouraged member states to support and participate in these activities”.
Source: Benjamin Njoku, Vanguard