FESTAC 77

A replica of this ivory mask was used as a symbol for Festac '77.

Festac '77, also known as the Second World Black and African Festival of Arts and Culture (the first took place in Dakar, 1966, the second in Algiers in July 1969) was a major international festival held in Lagos, Nigeria, from 15 January 1977 to 12 February 1977.[1] The month-long event celebrated African culture and showcased African music, fine art, literature, drama, dance and religion to the world. Around 16,000 participants, representing 56 African nations and countries of the African Diaspora, performed at the event.[2][3] 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 artist Miriam Makeba, and Franco Luambo Makiadi. At the time it was held, it was the largest pan-African gathering to ever take place.[4] The event attracted around 500,000 spectators.[5]

The official emblem of the festival was a replica royal ivory mask. The mask was crafted by Erhabor Emokpae of Benin.[6] 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.[7] A majority of the events were held in four main venues: the National Theatre, National Stadium, Surulere, Lagos City Hall and Tafawa Balewa Square.[8]

  1. ^ R, Jonathan C.; al; R, Jonathan C.; al (14 February 2014). "FESTAC: Upbeat Finale". The Washington Post. ISSN 0190-8286. Retrieved 15 March 2017.
  2. ^ Gray, Karen (1 May 1977). "Festac: A Festival of Arts". Ebony Magazine. Retrieved 22 August 2015.
  3. ^ Falola, Toyin (2002). Key Events in African History: A Reference Guide. Greenwood Press. p. 281. ISBN 9780313313233.
  4. ^ Mwalimu J. Shujaa, Kenya J. Shujaa (13 July 2015). The SAGE Encyclopedia of African Cultural Heritage in North America. Sage Publishers. ISBN 9781483346380. Retrieved 22 August 2015.
  5. ^ Monroe, Arthur (1977). "Festac 77-the Second World Black and African Festival of Arts and Culture: Lagos, Nigeria". The Black Scholar. 9 (1): 34–37. doi:10.1080/00064246.1977.11413937. ISSN 0006-4246. JSTOR 41066961.
  6. ^ Falola, Toyin; Ann Genova, eds. (1 July 2009). "World Black and African Festival of Arts and Culture". Historical Dictionary of Nigeria. Scarecrow Press. p. 369. ISBN 978-0-8108-6316-3.
  7. ^ Apter, Andrew (2005). The Pan-African Nation: Oil and the Spectacle of Culture in Nigeria. University of Chicago Press.
  8. ^ Cite error: The named reference Jstor was invoked but never defined (see the help page).