FESTAC ’77@40: CBAAC gets OBJ’s nod on African leaders

The continuous drive by the Centre for Black and African Arts and Civilization (CBAAC) to promote  African culture through the active participation of prominent leaders, may have paid off as former President Olusegun Obasanjo has pledged to support CBAAC.
His support would be in form of an invitation to all former African heads of state, who participated during  FESTAC ’77, to visit Nigeria when the 40th anniversary celebrations of the festival kick off at a later date.
The anniversary would kick off in Nigeria with a carnival to showcase all the works exhibited by participating countries during FESTAC 77.
The management of CBAAC, led by the Director-  General, Dr. Ferdinand Anikwe, got the pledge from the former President during a courtesy visit to Chief Obasanjo at his Hilltop residence in Abeokuta, Ogun State.
He was the military head of state when Nigeria hosted the second World Black and African Festival of Arts and Culture (FESTAC’77), in Lagos. The festival, which was a watershed in the history of black and African people, witnessed the gathering of 59 African countries and communities in a rare show of cultural display.
While responding to the FESTAC’77 video, put together by CBAAC, Obasanjo said: “I think it is very thoughtful and very kind of CBAAC to put this beautiful piece together and I want to thank you for keeping the spirit of FESTAC alive” adding that after the festival, some of the participated countries left their arts for safe keeping so that the memory of FESTAC could be preserved.
He added that 39 years after Nigeria hosted FESTAC’77, no country had been able to organise such an event and, “as Nigerians, we must be proud of this, because we have something to show to the world”.
Obasanjo who was elated by the visit of the CBAAC team, said that the 40th anniversary of FESTAC’77, would coincide with his 80th Birthday celebrations and promised to assist the centre by drawing the attention of the President to the importance of the forthcoming event.
Anikwe later thanked Obasanjo for his magnanimity and the fatherly role he has been playing in moving Nigeria forward.