The Festival for Arts and Culture (FESTAC ’77), according to Alhaji Lai Mohammed, Minister for Information and Culture, served as a haven for the racial harmony of Black people around the world.
At a celebration for the 45th anniversary of FESTAC that included a cultural showcase, dinner, and award ceremony, Mohammed noted that the festival had captured a number of inspiring stories.
The Center for Black Arts and African Civilization (CBAAC) planned the memorial ceremony, which took place in Abuja from December 7 to December 13, 2022.
The minister claimed that many people were motivated by the event to spread the gospel of bravery and freedom when they returned to their home nations.
He observed that the creative sector had given Blacks the most powerful voices for centuries, allowing them to communicate with the world more effectively over the years.
“The Pan-African ideology of FESTAC ’77 is not dying anytime soon and neither is the appreciation of black arts on a global space.
“The rising need for havens that are specifically for the black people is expected to go on for many years.
“And it is important that these safe spaces are made as they allow the black community find a sense of family in their identity and be comfortable enough to just live freely.
“Until we own the platforms and businesses, our creative efforts will be short lived and will create economic advantage only to the owners of the structures that monetise creative talents.
“Nollywood, Afrobeats, comedy, fashion, the performing arts and all have risen to keep the FESTAC dream alive and to be the leader in creative empowerment of the black race,” he said.
The Minister honoured those in the creative sector who are succeeding on a global scale, including late literary greats Chinua Achebe, Prof. Wole Soyinka, Femi Osofisan, Ben Okri, Sefi Atta, and Teju Cole.
He recognised President Muhammadu Buhari’s administration for its enormous contributions to the expansion and advancement of art and culture in Nigeria and beyond Africa.
He praised CBAAC DG Oluwabunmi Amao for organising such an admirable event and praised her for having a strong passion and feeling of duty for arts, culture, and heritage.
Earlier, 45-year-old veteran actress Dr. Sola Sobowale, the face of FESTAC, pleaded with traditional institutions to continue supporting CBAAC in its efforts to promote culture.
The 45th anniversary celebration of FESTAC has concluded after a week of events that included public lectures, exhibitions, colloquia, symposiums, displays of African fabrics and hairstyles, food fairs, displays of historical artefacts from FESTAC, and cultural dance performances.
