World Celebration of African Diversity: FESTAC’ 77 
The World Black and African Festival of Arts and Culture started as a mere idea in Paris in 1956, where the Paris-based Pan-African Cultural Society summoned a meeting of writers and artists to discuss the “resurgence” of the African culture. Continuing this effort in order to “propagate” the values and originality of Black culture, the second congress held in Rome in 1959, proposed the organization of a Black Cultural Festival, hosted for the first time by PresidentLéopold Sédar Senghor (1906–2001) in Dakar, Senegal, in April 1966.
This first edition was attended by prominent artists and musicians such as Duke Ellington, Arthur Mitchell, Alvin Ailey (American Negro Dance Company), Mestre Pastinha (the great Capoeirista of Bahia), Marion Williams, and the Queen of Samba, Clementina de Jesus.
The second session of the festival was organized by the military government of Lt. General Olusegun Obasanjo, in Nigeria. Despite it was cancelled twice, in 1970, due to the ongoing civil war (1967-70) and in 1974, due to its incomplete facilities, the festival was eventually realized from January 15 to February 12, in 1977.
Dubbed as FESTAC 1977 (Festival of African Arts and Culture) the event merged black artists from all over the globe: Bembeya Jazz (Guinea), Louis Maholo and Dudu Pukwana (South Africa), Mighty Sparrow (Trinidad),OK Jazz (Congo) accompanied by Ray Lema, Tabu Ley Rochereau and the Orchestre Afrisa International (Congo), Gilberto Gil (Brazil), the Cuban National Dance, aboriginal performers from Australia and New Guinea, and celebrated artists like Stevie wonder, Sun Ra, and Donald Byrd, to name only a few.
From this paramount event a few registrations survive up to date:
FESTAC ’77 – 2nd World Black & African Festival of Arts
FESTAC ’77 – 2nd World Black & African Festival of Arts and Culture
FESTAC ’77 was a great art and cultural assembly of Africans and African-Americans that was held for one month in Nigeria from the 15th Jan. until the 12th Feb. 1977. It was truly a class act that brought people of all races and nationalities to Nigeria in celebration of acts and culture that has since not been surpassed.
Most of the festival took place in Lagos State – in the main, conference and cinema halls of the National Theatre, Iganmu which was built for the event; the National Stadium in Surulere; Tafawa Balewa Square in Lagos; and in the Lagos City Hall; except for the Durbar, a spectacular involving over 3000 horses which took place in Kaduna State.
The Grand Patron of the event was President Olusegun Obasanjo, the current president of Nigeria, who was then a Lt. General of the Nigerian Armed Forces and the Head of the Federal Military Government. The President of the 2nd World Black and African Festival of Arts was the then Cmdr Ochegomie Promise Fingesi, who was then Nigeria’s Commissioner for Special Duties.
The 2nd World Black and African Festival of Arts and Culture is an Event organized and staged by the International Festival Committee, and its conception can be traced to the first festival held in Dakar, Senegal in 1966, which was then simply known as the World Festival of Negro Arts.
The festival which was a great departure from the first festival in terms of scope and magnitude embraced all Black and African people from all over the world.
Participation is open to
a] all member states of the AU (formerly OAU)
b] all Liberation Movements recognized by AU (formerly OAU)
c] all Black communities outside the African continent.
The Principal objectives of the Festival are:
i] to ensure the revival, resurgence, propagation and promotion of Black and African culture and Black and African cultural values and civilization.
ii] to present Black and African culture in its highest and widest conception;
iii] to promote Black and African artists, performers and writers, and to facilitate their world acceptance and their access to world outlets;
iv] to bring to light the diverse contributions of Black and African peoples to the universal current of thought and arts;
v] to promote better international and interracial understanding among men.
*The Anthem "For My People" was written by Margaret Walker from Alabama, USA, while the music was produced by Akin Euba a Nigerian, who was the head of the music section of the International Secretariat of FESTAC. This was presented by a four-part choir, and included piano, drum set, conga drums and string bass. (*see below for lyrics)
It was a joyous occasion of celebration of culture for both Nigeria, the host country and the worldwide participants which included Miriam Makeba, Stevie Wonder, (fmr.) U.S. Ambassador, Andrew Young, the Ipi Tombi Troupe, as well as a train of dignitaries, Kings, Emirs, Ambassadors, Commissioners, Ministers, Diplomatic Corps members and other VIPs from worldwide.
There were different disciplines including: Dancing, Music, Drama, Cinema, Literature Recitals, Popular Dressing & Exhibitions.
Countries that participated came from worldwide and included all the African countries – Gambia, Senegal, Mozambique, South Africa, Swaziland, Ghana, Libya, Zambia, Togo, Guinea Bissau, Sudan, Algeria, Mali, Sierra Leone, Tunisia, Liberia, Ethiopia, Ivory Coast, Tanzania, Uganda, Kenya, Zaire, Congo, Benin, Cameroun, Gabon, Mauritius, Niger, Somalia, Equatorial Guinea, Egypt, Malagasy, Mauritania, Botswana, Lesotho, Chad, Central Africa, Upper Volta, Morocco, and Angola; USA came with representatives from several different sates; South American countries included Brazil, Guyana, Cuba, Haiti; Europe had representatives from England, and Ireland; Australia had representatives from their continent; Canada had it’s own representatives, while the Caribbean was represented by Antigua, Barbados, Grenada, Bahamas, Jamaica, Trinidad & Tobago.
Performers in drama, literature, music and dance included Miriam Makeba; Osibisa; Letta Mbulu; the Angolan Modern Orchestra (one of many other Orchestras from many countries); the Nigerian Music Troupe; the Nigerian Dance Troupe; National Ballet groups from Algeria, Zaire, Congo, etc.; Aboriginal Dance Troupe from Australia; Ghana Festival Dance Co.; Darlene Blackburn, D.C. Repertory and Alvin Ailieys Dance Troupes (USA); Harambe Dancers (Kenya); Modern Pop Ensemble (Nigeria); Afro 70 Band (Tanzania); among several dance and music troupes and ensembles, national ballet groups, Orchestras, Drama groups.
In cinema, several movies from Nigeria and other African countries, as well as from Europe, the Caribbean and the USA were shown, including the popular Car Wash which was remade recently.
The live performance of a 3-band combination (Super Borgou, Orchestre Picoby-Band and Poly- Rythmo) as T.P. Poly Rythmo of the Peoples Republic of Benin
A volume of Happy Festac recordings by the Nigerian label Hasbunalau records
and the Golden Sounds of Cameroon
The 3rd edition of the Festival Mondial Des Artes Negres took place in Dakar, from 10-31 December 2010.
FESTAC ’77 Anthem
1] Let a new earth arise
Let another world be born
Let a bloody peace
Be written in the sky.
Refrain: Festac 77 is here
2] Let a second generation
Full of courage issue forth
Let a people loving freedom
Come to growth
Refrain: Festac 77 is here
3] Let a beauty full of healing
And strength of final clenching
be the pulsing in our spirits
And our blood
Refrain: Festac 77 is here
4] Let the martial songs be written
Let the dirges disappear
Let the race of men now rise
And take control
Refrain: Festac 77 is here
J. I. Alufa Reproduced the Queen Idia Mask Used for Festac
Joseph I. Alufa Reproduced the Queen Idia Mask Used for Festac ’77
http://naijapositive.myfastforum.org/about1244.html
Questions re: The Original Queen Idia Mask
http://naijapositive.myfastforum.org/about1243.html
Festac ’77 ~ Welcome To Nigeria & other music by Sunny Ade & His African Beat
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Lm9SJkg_Vrw
Music Played at Festac ’77
Music Played at Festac ’77
The Warrior - Osibisa ( Festac -’77)
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=S12qSXNARgk
Ipi- N’tombia – Ipi -Tombi (Festac ’77)
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=HpOY028ij2E
As a result of the experiences that Africa had gone through, it became a matter of necessity for Africans, Africans in Diaspora and People of African origin to come together and rediscover their roots as well as establish ties with Motherland Africa. Festac 77 became a means to this desire.
At that time in Black and African history there was nothing more appropriate than a re-discovery of those cultural and spiritual ties which bind together all Black and African people the world over. As it was necessary then, so it is now, even though it will be quite difficult to organize an event of such magnitude we can relive the experience .
The festival provided an unusual forum that brought to light the diverse contributions of Blacks and African peoples to the universal currents of thought and arts. It also provided an opportunity for recounting the achievements of our ancestors, contemporaries and their invaluable contributions to the enrichment of world thought and ideas.
More than anything the festival helped in debunking erroneous ideas and beliefs regarding the cultural and spiritual values of the Black and African race. It also made people aware that our culture were not only pre-historic objects placed in museums to be cleaned and displayed occasionally but also to it them as a living thing containing and portraying the values and believes of our people.
See UNESCO’s video archive: http://www.unesco.org/archives/multimedia/index.php?s=flvplayer&id_page=33&id_film=29
Summary/ Historical Context
Images du deuxième Festival des Arts et de la Culture négro-africains, organisé au Nigeria en janvier et février 1977 :musique, danse, théâtre, expositions. Reflets aussi de deux événements d’un intérêt tout particulier : les régates traditionnelles et le grand défilé équestre, le "durbar".
Sont présents sur cette video, le Directeur général de l’UNESCO, Trinidad All Stars; régates, images des alentours de Lagos. Procession, stade Hausa, Sokoto; Nigeria, bâtiments. Symbole du festival : masque Bénin, objets du Musée National de Lagos, marché autour du stade.
Place(s): Nigeria
Duration: 00:26:18
Publisher: UNESCO
Date issued: 1977
With over 17,000 participants from over fifty countries, it is the largest cultural event ever held on the African continent. The Festival was a living proof that nations though differing in tribe and tongue can come together to embrace one another through arts and culture for a common joyous purpose which promotes human tolerance and world unity.
“I pray that this kind of event will prevail and continue to promote love rather than the intolerance and hatred that underlies human interaction, even in this very day and age.”
