World Festival of Black Arts

The festivals were planned as Pan-African celebrations and ranged in content from debate to performance — particularly dance and theatre.Banham, Martin (1994), Errol Hill, George Woodyard (eds), The Cambridge Guide to African & Caribbean Literature, Cambridge University Press, "FESTAC", p. 3. The filmmaker William Greaves made a 40-minute documentary of the event entitled The First World Festival of Negro Arts (1968).[http://www.africanfilmny.org/2012/the-first-world-festival-of-negro-arts/ "The First World Festival of Negro Arts"], African Film Festival, New York. Italian journalist Sergio Borelli produced Il Festival de Dakar (1966){{cite web |last=Borelli |first=Caterina |date=10 August 2015 |title='Festival mondial des arts nègres'- 'World Festival of Black Arts' by Sergio Borelli, 50 min. |url=https://vimeo.com/135843095 |access-date=8 March 2018 |via=Vimeo}}{{cite web |title=African Presences I: Music in Africa » Pan-African Festivals |url=http://musc265.blogs.wesleyan.edu/postcolonial/pan-african-festivals/ |access-date=8 March 2018 |website=musc265.blogs.wesleyan.edu}} a 50-minute documentary for RAI. Senegalese director Paulin Soumanou Vieyra also produced the documentary Le Sénégal au festival national des arts nègres (1966). Directors from the USSR, Irina Venzher and Leonid Makhnach, produced the Russian-language documentary Ритми Африки (Ritmi Afriki) about the festival.

The First World Festival of Black Arts (French: Premier Festival Mondial des Arts Noirs) or World Festival of Negro Arts (French: Festival mondial des arts nègres) was held in Dakar, Senegal, 1–24 April 1966, hosted by former President Leopold Segar Senghor, and supported by the United Nations Educational, Scientific, and Cultural Organization UNESCO,{{cite web|url=http://unesdoc.unesco.org/Ulis/cgi-bin/ulis.pl?catno=190260&gp=0&lin=1&ll=1|title=1st World Festival of Negro Arts, Dakar, April 1-24, 1966: Colloquium: Function and Significance of African Negro Art in the Life of the People and for the People, March 30-April 8, 1966; 1968|website=unesdoc.unesco.org|access-date=8 March 2018}} along with the French government. The festival involved around 2,500 participants from 30 independent African countries and other nations with diasporic communities, such as the US, Brazil, The Caribbean, France, and the United Kingdom.Murphy, 2016, pp. 3 & 4. It featured black literature, music, theater, visual arts, film, and dance.[http://www.nypl.org/archives/3636 "First World Festival of Negro Arts. U.S. Committee Records"], New York Public Library. It was the first state-sponsored festival to showcase the work of African and African diasporic artists, musicians, and writers to a global audience.{{Cite web |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20150715155558/http://www.tate.org.uk/learn/online-resources/glossary/w/world-festival-of-negro-arts |archive-date=15 July 2015 |url=http://www.tate.org.uk/learn/online-resources/glossary/w/world-festival-of-negro-arts |website=tate.org.uk |title=World Festival of Negro Arts |access-date=19 October 2023}} Under President Leopold Senghor, the festival was intended to place culture at the forefront of African diasporic renaissance. The main goals of the jubilee were to (1) advance international and interracial understandings, (2) tie the African homeland to external diasporic members, (3) promote the philosophy of Negritude, and (4) allow Negro artists to meet and showcase talents to members/outlets of the international art world.{{cite journal|last = Ratcliff |first = Anthony J. |title = When Négritude Was In Vogue: Critical Reflections of the First World Festival of Negro Arts and Culture in 1966 |url=https://www.jpanafrican.org/docs/vol6no7/6.7-6Ratcliff.pdf |journal= Journal of Pan African Studies |volume= 6|number= 7 |page=172 |date= February 2014|access-date=7 February 2025}}

In preparation for the event, Dakar underwent major reconstruction via internal funding and contributions from participating nations. Dakar built new roads, an airport terminal, and two new venues – the Theatre National Daniel Sorano and the Musée Dynamique - for incoming participants and visitors. Dakar repurposed existing buildings such as the Palace de Justice (law courts), the Cathedral, Dakar Town Hall, and various beachfronts to accommodate the wave of performances that month.Murphy, 2016, p. 21.

The festival kicked off with an 8-day colloquium (co-organized by UNESCO) that organized philosophical and theoretical presentations on the function/importance of Negro Arts. Held in the National Assembly Building [Povey, 1966, p. 5]. The opening presentation was given by President Senghor's speech "The Defense and Illustration of Negritude" while other participants provided material for discussion such as Langston Hughes' "Black Writers in a Troubled World".Ratcliff, 2014, p. 177. For the rest of the month, festival attendees explored the city by going to various exhibitions in various venues. The Cinema Palace held screenings of submitted films and documentaries, the newly built Musée Dynamique showcased national art exhibits, and the Theatre National Daniel Sorano staged dances, plays, and jazz gigs. International judges also awarded festival prizes in the Daniel Sorano Theater [Povey, 1966, p. 6]. Participants such as poet Tchicaya U'Tamsi [France] and playwright Wole Soyinka [Nigeria] left with awards in their respective categories.

A North American committee organized US participation in the festival. This delegation was led by H. Alwynn Innes-Brown (president) and John A. Davis (vice president) from the American Society of African Culture.Ratcliff, 2014, p. 173. Helping to facilitate US involvement were the US Senegal ambassadors, musician Mercer Cook, and French Literature scholar Ousmane Soce Diop.Murphy, 2016, p. 20. The US State Department funded the committee and the chosen participants, providing $150,000 in funding, and appointed then-President Lyndon B. Johnson and his wife as honorary members. Key US participants include Ralph Bunche, Alvin Ailey, Marian Anderson, Fred O'Neal, Leontyne Price, Sidney Poitier, Hale Woodruff, Ossie Davis, Duke Ellington, Langston Hughes, Margaret Danner, Rosa Guy, Marian Anderson, Katherine Dunham, Arthur Mitchell, and William Warfield.

While the festival was considered a success – with 50,000 people in attendance total – there was criticism from prominent black scholars and participants before and after the event. The lack of discourse and illustration of the current political struggles and African Liberation was a main source of disparagement. The event avoided deliberation on anti-colonialism and anti-imperialism, highlighting ideas of culture over politics and economy. The festival was also condemned for its selection of participants as mainly nation-states were allowed to contribute, and delegations had to receive approval before submitting representatives. Black scholars such as Afro-Brazilian writer Abdias do Nascimento were denied entry due to not being official members of approved delegations.c Moreover, contemporary musicians and radical Black scholars from America – such as James Brown – were not allowed to join as US Representatives. American editor, educator, critic, and author Hoyt Fuller also pointed out the heavy government influence that hung over the event from the US State Department, CIA, and French government. {{multiple image

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This sequence also included Festival panafricain d'Alger 1969.

{{Main|FESTAC 77}}

In 1977, from 15 January to 12 February, the Second World Festival of Black Arts or Black and African Festival of Arts and Culture — known as FESTAC '77 — took place in Lagos, Nigeria, under the patronage of President Olusegun Obasanjo.{{cite web|url=http://naijapositive.myfastforum.org/archive/festac-77-2nd-world-black-and-african-festival-of-arts__o_t__t_21.html|title=FESTAC '77 - 2nd World Black & African Festival of Arts - NaijaPositive.com|website=naijapositive.myfastforum.org|date=25 May 2007|access-date=8 March 2018}} Attended by more than 17,000 participants from more than 50 countries, it was the largest cultural event ever held on the African continent. Among artists who took part were Stevie Wonder, Ted Joans, the Sun Ra Arkestra, and Donald Byrd from the US, Tabu Ley and Franco from the Congo, Gilberto Gil from Brazil, Bembeya Jazz National from Guinea, and Louis Moholo, Dudu Pukwana, and Miriam Makeba from South Africa.[http://blog.afropop.org/2011/01/history-of-world-festival-of-black-arts.html "The History of the World Festival of Black Arts & Culture / FESTAC"], Afropop Worldwide, 20 January 2011.

Senegalese President Abdoulaye Wade initiated the Third World Festival of Black Arts from 10–31 December 2010, with the theme of African Renaissance. President Wade said in his 2009 address at the UN: "I call all Africans, all the sons and daughters of the Diaspora, all my fellow citizens, all the partners that are ready to walk by our side, all States, all international organizations, foundations, firms, etc. for a shining success for this Festival, and the rise of a new Africa."{{cite web|url=https://digital.archives.unesco.org/en/web-exhibitions/detail/b7e8364a-f9a6-4f68-b599-ef2f673977c7|title=Honoring Black Arts {{!}} Third World Festival of Black Arts: Dakar, 2010|website=www.unesco.org|access-date=16 April 2023}} The 2010 festival was curated by Kwame Kwei-Armah, and participants at the opening ceremony included Youssou N'Dour, Baaba Maal, Angélique Kidjo, Toumani Diabaté, Wyclef Jean, Euzhan Palcy, Carlinhos Brown and the Mahotella Queens.Pool, Hannah (3 January 2011), [https://www.theguardian.com/stage/2011/jan/03/world-festival-of-black-arts-kwei-armah "World Festival of Black Arts: a once in a decade event"], The Guardian. As well as music and cinema, the festival featured art exhibitions, theatre and dance performances, fashion shows, photography and other events, with the participation of artists and intellectuals from dozens of African and African diaspora countries, including the US, Brazil, Haiti, France and Cuba.Daoudi, Karima, [http://fulbright.mtvu.com/karimadaoudi/2011/03/21/the-world-festival-of-black-arts-and-cultures/ "The World Festival of Black Arts and Cultures"], Fulbright-mtvU Fellows, 21 March 2011.Lee, Felicia R., [http://artsbeat.blogs.nytimes.com/2010/12/07/world-festival-of-black-arts-announces-lineup/?_r=0 "World Festival of Black Arts Announces Lineup"], ArtsBeat, The New York Times, 7 December 2010.

Twelve years later, Hotel Verde in Zanzibar hosted Festac, with high-profile names including H.E. Chief Olusegun Obasanjo, Professor Wole Soyinka, H.E. Dr Hussein Ali Mwinyi, and Dr Abdulrazak Gurnah.

Under a new festival director, Lehlohonolo Peega, "Festac Africa 2023, Destination Arusha, Tanzania", was held in the tourist city of Arusha, Tanzania, with the theme: Experience Africa in Seven Days.

This rendition of the festival opened on Sunday night (21 May 2023) by former Black Panther member Charlotte Hill O'Neal with a benediction ceremony and the hoisting of African flags. The official opening (on Monday, 22 May 2023) featured Africa's leading speaker, Professor P. L. O. Lumumba, who encouraged and commended the work done by the festival under its chairperson Abioye Yinka and CEO Grace Mumo.

In various interviews with global media houses, Prof Lumumba stressed the need for Festac.

The week's activities were followed by performances from the legendary East African band, Les Wanyika, Lord Eyez, Jamapara, and many more, with a three-day conference addressing climate change, women in business, cultural diplomacy, etc.

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• {{Cite journal |last1=Murphy |first1=David |title=Dakar 66: Chronicles of a Pan-African Festival – Musée du Quai Branly, Paris February 16–May 15, 2016 |journal=African Arts |volume=50 |issue=1 |pages=80–82 |date=2017 |url=http://www.mitpressjournals.org/doi/full/10.1162/AFAR_r_00333 |doi=10.1162/AFAR_r_00333 |issn=0001-9933 |via=MIT Press Journals |df=mdy-all |hdl=1893/25142 |hdl-access=free }}

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• {{Cite web |url=http://www.facebook.com/pages/FESMAN-2009-3rd-World-Festival-of-Black-Arts/139507010116 |title=FESMAN 2009 - 3rd World Festival of Black Arts |website=facebook.com |access-date=19 October 2023}} Facebook site for the 2009 festival.
• {{Cite web |url=http://funnelme.wordpress.com/2011/03/11/black-world-festival-festac-77/ |website=funnelme.wordpress.com |title=Black World Festival: Festac' 77. Lagos, Nigeria |access-date=19 October 2023}}
• {{Cite web |url=https://punchng.com/les-wanyika-others-to-perform-at-festac-africa-festival/ |website=punchng.com |title=Les Wanyika, others to perform at FESTAC Africa festival |date=March 29, 2023 |first=Idowu |last=Abdullahi |access-date=19 October 2023}}
• {{Cite web |url=https://dailynews.co.tz/120-golfers-brightens-arushas-festac-2023/ |website=dailynews.co.tz |title=120 golfers brightens Arusha's Festac 2023 |access-date=19 October 2023 |first=Yasinta |last=Amos |location=Arusha |date=May 25, 2023 |publisher=Tanzania Standard Newspapers Limited}}
• {{Cite web |url=https://eturbonews.com/festac-africa-2023-tanzania-hosts-africas-biggest-festival/ |title=FESTAC Africa 2023: Tanzania Hosts Africa's Biggest Festival |date=March 18, 2023 |last=Apolinari |first=Tairo |website=eturbonews.com |access-date=19 October 2023 |publisher=TravelNewsGroup, eTurboNews}}

• {{Cite web |url=http://www.unesco.org/archives/multimedia/?s=films_details&pg=33&id=29 |website=unesco.org |title=Unesco Video and Sound Collections. Festac 77 - Lagos Festival |access-date=19 October 2023 |publisher= UNESCO}} Festival of 1966. Featuring Senghor, Duke Ellington, and Langston Hughes. Documentary video duration 26 min.
• {{Vimeo |id=135843095 |title=“Festival mondial des arts nègres”- “World Festival of Black Arts” by Sergio Borelli, 50 min.}} Video duration 50m 28s. Uploader caterina borelli, 2015.
• {{YouTube|id=9HiIfnIk9Rw|title="Arusha open your arms. Les Wanyika coming for FESTAC AFRICA after blankets and wine"}}. Video duration 17m 17s. Uploader Purplesam Kinuthia EntataineR, 2023.
• {{YouTube|id=6HyISxIQYyI|title="FESTAC AFRICA 2023 Destination Arusha, Tanzania Episode 3"}}. Video duration 44m 45s. Uploader Clevenard Social Platform, 2023.
• {{YouTube|id=5stZ4XqzQ2A|title="Tanzania set to host one of Africa's biggest festivals"}}. Video duration m s. Uploader Newzroom Afrika, 19 May 2023.

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Category:1996 establishments in Senegal

Category:African festivals

Category:Art exhibitions in Senegal

Category:Art festivals in Africa

Category:Arts festivals in Africa

Category:Arts festivals in Nigeria

Category:Arts organisations based in Senegal

Category:Arts organizations based in Africa

Category:Arts organizations based in Nigeria

Category:Arts organizations established in 1996

Category:Black people in art

Category:Film festivals about African cinema