FESTAC'77 - The Second World Black and African Festival of Arts and Culture, Nigeria, 1977

Festac '77, a.k.a 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, Nigeria, 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. Artists who performed at the festival included Stevie Wonder from United States, Gilberto Gil from Brazil, Bembeya Jazz National from Guinea, Mighty Sparrow from Trinidad and Tobago, Les Ballets Africains, South African Miriam Makeba, and Franco Luambo Makiadi. At the time it was held, it was the largest pan-African gathering to ever take place.
The official emblem of the festival was a replica crafted by Erhabor Emokpae of 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, Lagos.[6] Most of the events were held in four main venues: the National Theatre, National Stadium, Surulere, Lagos City Hall and Tafawa Balewa Square.
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🔄 Sources
➡️UNESCO: www.unesco.org...
Production and personalities:
Director: Philip Gaunt
Participant: Amadou Mahtar M'Bow
Publisher: UNESCO TV
Producer: Alhaji Adegboyega Arulogun
Coproducer/sponsor: Nigerian National Commission for UNESCO; Nagerian Television Lagos
Published in: 1977
Library catalogue (UNESDOC): 92627
🔄Documents: Photo credits
➡️Festac '77. 1977. London and Lagos: Africa Journal Limited and the International Festival Committee.
➡️Festac '77 Visitors Guide to the Festival. 1977. Lagos: International Secretariat.
➡️Festac '77 Health Guide for FESTAC Visitors to Nigeria. 1977. Lagos: ➡️Federal Ministry of Health.
➡️Festac '77 Spotlight. 1977. Lagos: International Secretariat.
➡️Festac '77 General Colloquium Programme. 1977. Lagos: International Secretariat.
➡️Festac '77 General Programme. 1977. Lagos: International Secretariat.
➡️Moyibi Amoda. 1978. Festac Colloquium and Black World Development: Evaluation of Festac Colloquium Agenda, Lagos Programme 1977. Lagos: Nigeria Magazine and the Federal Ministry of Information.
🔄 Wikipedia: en.wikipedia.o...
🔄 NY Times January 13, 1977, Page 7
210 BLACKS LEAVE HERE FOR FESTIVAL IN NIGERIA
"Two hundred and ten black American artists, writers and dancers flew out of John F. Kennedy Airport yesterday as the first contingent of official American participants in the Second World Black and African Festival of Arts and Culture in Lagos, Nigeria.
The festival is scheduled to open on Saturday and run through Feb. 12.
Dr. Jeff Donaldson, chairman of the United States committee for the festival, said yesterday that he hoped to have at least two additional chartered flights to ferry 700 to 800 American participants to Nigeria during coming weeks.
The $115,000 cost for today's flight on Capitol Airways was met by a State Department grant.
Included among those on yesterday's flight were the writers. Paule Marshall, Rosa Guy, Louise Meriweather, Vinnie Burrows, J. E. Franklin, Jayne Cortez and Tony Batten. Some of the groups represented include the Harlem Children's Theater, the National Black Theater Workshop, the Eleo Pomare Dance Company, the Cleo Robinson Dance Company and the Kuumba Theater Workshop".
www.nytimes.co...
#FESTAC77 #AfricanFestival #AfricanArts #AfricaCulture #Africacivilization #Lagos, #Nigeria

[@VivSees]

It was an amazing experience!

[@sulaimantimilehin3731]

Please post more if you have more on the festival.

[@MURCE3D]

definitely

[@VivSees]

Wrong anthem.