FESATC’77 @45: A Potpourri of Conversations, Cultural Showcase and Awards

It was a potpourri of conversations, awards and world class cultural performances recently at the commemoration of Festival for Arts and Culture, FESTAC ’77 at 45. Organised by the Centre for Black Arts and African Civilisation, CBAAC, the festival served as a sanctuary for the unification of the Black people across the world, Chiemelie Ezeobi reports

Recently at Transcorp Hilton Hotel in Abuja, it was an evening of conversations, world class cultural performances and awards to deserving individuals across different sectors when the Centre for Black Arts and African Civilisation (CBAAC) commemorated the Festival for Arts and Culture (FESTAC ’77) at 45.

The evening, which was also tinged with short conversations, witnessed the presence of the creme de la creme of the society including captains of industries, technocrats and politicians.

Oozing class aesthetic wise, from the entrance of the hall, the stark beauty of the decoration was blinding. Red and white were the colour of the day and its classic lines were seen in every decoration and backdrop.

Draped in their finest, the guests were first heralded at the Red Carpet outside the hotel before they were led into the hall by ushers, who were gaily dressed in traditional attires.

On entering the hall, the guests were welcomed to the beautiful ambience of the set tables and the golden bubbles that was the backdrop of the huge stage.
During the award, drinks flowed, tasty palate with scintillating dessert were served as the audience as awardees climbed up the decked stage to receive their plaques.

But prior to the award, CBAAC led by its Director General, Hon Olubunmi Ayobami Amao, had hosted days and days of conversations on cultural diversity, nation building and integration in Africa and the World.

In fact, the week-long event witnessed cultural dance performances, exhibitions, colloquium, symposium, African hairdo and fabric exhibitions, food fair, exhibitions of FESTAC relics and documentaries, public lecture and international conference.

So for CBAAC, the climax was the award and gala night to celebrate individuals who have contributed to the promotion and propagation of African cultural heritage.

Thus, the grand finale was a gathering of royalty as from the ambience of the hall to the exquisite decorations and table settings, everything screamed pure class- a plus many attributed to the taste of the CBAAC DG.

According to the immediate past Minster of Information and Culture, Alhaji Lai Mohammed, FESTAC ’77 served as a sanctuary for the unification of the Black people across the world.

Mohammed, during a cultural showcase, dinner and award night held in commemoration of the 45th anniversary of FESTAC, said the festival recorded a series of positive narratives as it inspired many to go back to their countries of residence and preach the messages of bravery and freedom.

He also commended CBAAC DG, Hon Olubunmi Amao, for putting together such a commendable event, describing her as someone with deep love and sense of responsibility for arts, culture and heritage.

Earlier, veteran actress, Dr Shola Sobowale, who is the face of FESTAC at 45, urged the traditional institutions to continue to support CBAAC on cultural promotion.

For the DG CBAAC, the reason for the commemoration was not far-fetched because FESATC’77 took place to project African cultures to the world and strengthen the historical connection and relationship between Africa and the Diaspora.

Interestingly today, she said 45 years after FESTAC, Black and African peoples are beginning to take up their rightful places in the world, in medicine, science and technology, sports, music and entertainment, education, arts and creativity and several areas of human endeavour, hence the need to bring that to the forefront.

Award of Excellence

No fewer than 21 traditional rulers and members of the diplomatic communities were also conferred with similar awards for their contributions toward the promotion and propagation of African culture.

For the award proper, world’s youngest crowned monarch in the 1980 edition of the World Guinness Book of Record, The Dein of Agbor Kingdom, His Royal Highness, Benjamin Nwachukwu Keagbarekuri 1 got an Award of Excellence for being a champion of peace, security and unity in his kingdom and beyond; Mama Nike Okundaye Davies, textile arts connoisseur and proprietor of Africa’s renowned art gallery, Nike Art Gallery won the Trailblazer award; and Ara the drummer was also awarded.

Also, Oba Adeyeye Ogunwusi, Ooni of Ife, was awarded. According to Hon Amao, the Ooni of Ife, a peace builder, was known to have transformed the ancient city of Ile-Ife to a tourist site, while the
Oba of Benin, Oba Ewuare II, was awarded for being a strong advocate of cultural integration and unity.

She said the Emir of Zazzau, Ahmed Bamalli, had placed the peace and unity of his subjects over everything while the Obi of Onitsha, Igwe Nnaemeka Achebe, had remained passionate about education as a fundamental factor in national development and also set up a manpower development trust fund in his community to help indigent students in their academic pursuit, a move she described as remarkable.

She noted that the Etsu Nupe, Alhaji Yahaya Abubakar, is seen as a great lover of arts and custodian of the traditional heritage of Nupe people which he projects within and outside Nigeria while the Olubadan of Ibadan, Senator Moshood Balogun’s reign had brought about remarkable peace and progress to Ibadan land in Oyo state.

According to the DG, the Olugbo of Ugbo Kingdom, Oba Frederick Akinruntan, over the years had been able to unite his people and encourage peace among his subjects, while the late Nelson Mandela was an African nationalist and socialist who focused on dismantling the apartheid regime and foster racial reconciliation.

Other recipients of the awards were Oba Olusola Alao, the Olugbon of Orile-Igbon; Nneka and Isaac Moses of Goge Africa; Zainab Ahmed, immediate past Minster of Finance, Budget and National Planning; Mrs Omotayo Omotosho, a tourism consultant and Geoffrey Onyeama, erstwhile Minister of Foreign Affairs.

Awardees from the diplomatic community include: Clara Culido-Escandel, the Cuban Ambassador to Nigeria, and Dr Yanko Yordanov, the Bulgarian Ambassador to Nigeria.

Recipients from the creative industry were Chief Nike Davies-Okundaye, Founder, Nike Arts Gallery; Aralola Olumuyiwa, Cultural Ambassador to Ife Kingdom, and Nollywood Actor, Ramsey Nouah.