NAN-ELS-3
Festac ’77
By Taiye Baiyerohi
Lagos, Nov. 9, 2017 (NAN) African leaders have been urged to accord attention to the celebration and promotion of African culture to ensure cultural interaction, diplomacy and exchange.
Dr Kilo Fofung, an official in the Cameroon Ministry of Arts and Culture, said this at the closing ceremony of the commemoration of Festac ’77 @40 in Lagos, said that this would further foster unity across the continent.
Fofung, a Technical Adviser (1) in the ministry, said that the festival was no longer celebrated with the same vigour Africans expressed in 1977.
“How do we bring back the festival to be what we had in 1977; this is a food for thought for all,” she said.
“Festac ’77 @40 is a huge success but we all need to go back to the drawing board to make it better than what we have this year, we can make it better,” she said.
Also, Prof. Zanzan Akaka, a professor of Architecture from the University of Jos, urged to embrace the African traditional architectural designs when building their houses, hotels and hospitality firms.
He said that this was to promote African culture adding that it was less expensive and would solve problems of housing deficit which the Federal Government of Nigeria was currently facing.
“This African traditional architectural design is less expensive and an individual can complete the construction of a house within three days.
“Let us all go back to our root and minimise western culture imitations,” he said.
Dr Ferdinand Anikwe, Director General Centre for black and Africa Arts and Civilisation, said that the commemoration of Festac ’77 @40 was not for self glorification.
He said that he was compelled by the need to deal passionately and objectively with the dominant variables that are presently critical in national life.
He noted that it was to address the socio-economic, political and educational processes that have been greatly flavoured by western civilisation, ideals, thoughts and ideologies.
He, however said that justice had been fairly done to most of these problems as the younger generation had benefited from the symposium, exhibitions, performances and more.
“These young ones are seen to be the ones to put things right in the nearest future and they have been schooled on the significance of embracing our culture,” he said.
Mrs Ndidi Aimienwauu, organiser of the festival commended the participants for their input and solicited for more support.
NAN reports that the four day programme was held at the University of Lagos Sports Complex and National Theatre Main Exhibition Hall.
Festac ’77, also known as the Second World Black and African Festival of Arts and Culture (the first was in Dakar, 1966), was a major international festival held in Lagos, from 15 January 1977 to 12 February 1977.
The month-long event celebrated African culture and showcased to the world African music,fine art, literature, drama, dance and religion.
About 16,000 participants, representing 56 African nations and countries of the African Diaspora, performed at the event.
The emblem of the festival was the royal ivory mask of Benin.
The hosting of the festival led to the establishment of the Nigerian National Council of Arts and Culture, Festac Village and the National Theatre, Iganmu. (NAN)
PTB/DE/EAL
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Edited by Dorcas Jonah/Ekemini Ladejobi