Black heritage; Festac '77
Howdy folks,
Out of all the traditions, cultures and cultural materials around the world, it is a well known fact that African traditions and cultural materials stands out to be the best followed by the Chinese artifact (please all Chinese in the house, praise the Lord 😁😁). Infact there is a phrase that is associated with Africans and that is 'black is beautiful' or 'Ebony life'. The black heritage (cultural materials in this wise) is not only a pure work of art and cunning work of a seasoned artist, it contains the history, culture, stories, ability and technology of the African race.
During the colonial era, many this artifacts were catered away by the colonial masters (some would even say stolen). They were collected through various deceptive means such as exchange for a less value item like glass, forcefully taken from their owners and makers. Where the first point is made possible because of the then leaders (kings and regents), the second was through pure force and exploitation.
Festac '77
The Festac 1977 festival, the second world black and African festival of arts and culture (the first was held in Dakar, 1966), was a major international festivak held in Lagos, Nigeria. It spanned from the 15 of January 1977 to 12 of February 1977. About 16,000 participants were present at the event representing 56 countries of the African nation and countries of the African diaspora. It was the largest Pan-African gathering to ever take place. Other participants from various parts of were also present and did perform. Some of these includes; Steve wonder from United States, Gilberto Gill from Brazil, Bambeya jazz National from Guinea and so on.
The image above is not just an ordinary work of bronze, it is infact a sculpture head of the Queen mother, Queen Idia who was the first Queen mother of the 16th century. Many were made by the Benins but were looted away by the British. You can read more on the ivory mask of the Benin here
Aim of the festival
To ensure the revival, resurgence, propagation and promotion of Black and African culture and black and African cultural values and civilization;
To present black and African culture in its highest and widest conception;
To bring to light the diverse contributions of black and African peoples to the universal currents of thought and arts;
To promote black and African artists, performers and writers and facilitate their world acceptance and their access to world outlets;
To promote better international and interracial understanding;
To facilitate a periodic return to origin in Africa by black artists, writers and performers uprooted to other continents.
Features
The festival has a lot of features some of which includes;
A match past by 48 participating counties before distinguished invited guests and the then head of state, Olusegun Obasanjo.
African dance steps and cultural performance
Music performance by popular artist such Fela kuti
Cariafesta by guyana, etc.
To be continued...
I'd stop here for now cause I have to go cook and eat.
Thanks for reading this article. Don't forget to hit the 👍 button. Stay blessed ❤️❤️❤️
Very nice article bro 👏 I have always heard about Festac but I didn't actually know much about it. But there's actually something you should know about writing articles like these: not many people will be able to relate with it. I will talk more about this in my article later today