Reinventing FESTAC ’77: A tall order?

The tourism industry received a boost with the pronouncement
of the Minister of Culture, Tourism and National Orientation, Chief Edem Duke,
regarding the Federal Government’s plans of replicating the FESTAC ’77
experience in the next two years.

To many observers, the decision is a welcome development,
coming 35 years after FESTAC ’77 brought world spotlight to diverse African and
Black cultures which were then showcased in Lagos.

It is on record that the epoch-making festival brought
together the finest stock of African cultures in a degree that has never been
experienced before, while the event has since remained a unique reference point
whenever issues relating to African cultures are being discussed.

FESTAC ‘77 is the Second World Black and African Festival of
Arts and Culture that was organised in Lagos in 1977 to reflect and share the
experiences which Africa and its peoples had gone through.

FESTAC ’77 particularly aimed at ensuring the revival,
resurgence, promotion of the Black and African cultural values and civilisation

Analysts recall that the event somewhat repositioned
Nigeria’s status as a leading country, not only in Africa but also in the world
at large.

One of the enduring benefits of FESTAC ’77 is the FESTAC
town, a sprawling housing estate in Lagos, now home to close to 100,000
residents. The estate was primarily constructed for the cultural fiesta but the
houses were sold to people at the end of the festival.

Tourism experts believe that the organisation of another
cultural festival of FESTAC ‘77’s magnitude will undoubtedly spur the growth of
the tourism and cultural sectors of Nigeria’s economy, while strengthening the
country’s unity.

They, however, underscore the need for the Federal
Government to start planning for the proposed cultural fiesta now because plans
for events of such magnitude ought to be detailed, purposeful and painstaking.

Mr Akinwumi Ololade, the General Manager of Pathfinder
Travels and Tours Ltd., recalls that FESTAC ’77 was a huge success, while its
memories are evergreen because of the depth of the preparations for the event.

“To date, there has never been a cultural event, involving
Africans and people of African ancestry, that can match FESTAC ’77,” he says.

“The festival, no doubt, showcased our very best in terms of
culture; the totality of our being. Don’t forget the fact that culture remains
the bond that binds us together; it is the totality of a people.”

Sharing similar sentiments, Mr John Abuah, an Abuja-based
Arts instructor, says that the benefits of events such as FESTAC ’77 can never
be over-emphasised.

“A multi-ethnic country such as Nigeria, which has over 250
identified ethnic groups, has every cause to celebrate and showcase the
people’s culture.

“The government decision to replicate FESTAC ’77 is by all
means a welcome development; it will strengthen our resolve as a country to
live together and promote issues that bind us together.

“The black race has always promoted the African philosophy,
which many past leaders like Kwame Nkrumah of Ghana, Julius Nyerere of
Tanzania, Nnamdi Azikiwe of Nigeria, Jomo Kenyatta of Kenya and a host of other
African leaders were known for,” he says.

Abuah reiterates that these African leaders saw culture as a
way of life and as a definition of quality in a person or society.

He, therefore, urges the Federal Government to properly plan
for the proposed cultural fiesta, adding that the private sector should be
involved in the planning and organisation of the festival.

Mr Sola Adeju, a sociologist, who recalls that he was quite
young when FESTAC ’77 was organised, stresses that the thrills and memories of
the event have always been with him.

“I love to remember FESTAC ’77 and the remembrance often
comes with nostalgic feelings. I always feel proud that I belong to one of the
best cultures in Africa and the world at large.

“I always want to remember the festival in many ways; we had
a lot of achievements to celebrate and talk about,” he says.

Adeju, however, insists that planning for the proposed
fiesta should start now for it to be successful.

He says that going by the high standard of FESTAC ’77,
preparations for the proposed event should start now so as to enable it to be
similarly successful.

“One thing that is always on my mind is how to improve
Nigeria’s external image; we can use the cultural festival to sell Nigeria and
let other cultures know that we are citizens of a great country; that Nigeria
is not a den of criminals.

“For long, we have been a nation that has been
misunderstood, so a gathering and celebration of cultures in Nigeria will be
quite useful in efforts to reposition and refurbish our external image,” he
says.

From all indications, the Federal Government is apparently
aware of the benefits that could be derived from the event and is willing to
ensure its success.

Duke says: “I see the festival as a possibility; the only
limitation is the will and desire of the stakeholders in the private sector and
the culture community to ensure that the proposed event becomes a reality.”

Going from the general to the specifics, Dr Tunde Ojo, a
tourism expert, insists that preparations for the festival should start now
with the formation of various planning committees.

“It is also necessary to set up a study group with members
drawn from various sectors to scrutinise the FESTAC ’77 planning processes to
ascertain how to model the coming event on the perceptible patterns.

“The private sector ought to play a major role in the
planning process by putting in place a solid marketing strategy,” he says.

Ojo, nonetheless, insists that the Federal Government should
demonstrate appreciable willpower and commitment if it wants the fiesta to have
an excellent standard, comparable to that of FESTAC ’77.

Apparently aware of the government’s expectations in the
venture, the culture and tourism minister says: “I want to plead with the Heads
of Missions; let us put it in our plans the possibility of replicating FESTAC
’77.

“It will not only be helpful in our African renaissance
agenda but it will also strengthen our unity in diversity as a nation,” he
says.

Duke believes that the proposed event will further promote
cultural fusion among Africans in the Diaspora.

“It will be such a wonderful opportunity to gather and
celebrate humanity and our love for one another,” he adds.

Sharing similar sentiments, Mrs Funmi Adeyemi, an art
collector, says that staging a cultural event of FESTAC ‘77’s magnitude in
Nigeria would be quite fantastic, saying that it will bring peoples of diverse
cultural background together.

She, nonetheless, insists that the Federal Government should
initiate plans for the fiesta with a stakeholders’ conference to discuss the
salient issues involved in the event.

“Government should start the process by inaugurating various
committees to kick-start the preparations; we need to show the world that we
are a united nation in spite of our current security challenges.

“I witnessed FESTAC ’77 as a young girl but I now wish to
take part in a reloaded cultural festival that will bring out the best of
African,” Adeyemi adds.

All the same, the consensus of opinion on the proposed
cultural festival is: The planning ought to start now.

Enehikhuere writes for the News Agency of Nigeria (NAN)

Julius Enehikhuere