Thanks to the initiative and impulse of the intellectual Alioune Diop, founder of the Présence Africaineeditions and journal of same name, and of Léopold Sedar Senghor – the poet president - that the World Festival of Black Arts was created. A personnality such as Aimé Césaire left his mark on the first edition of Fesman. Let’s take a look back at the origins of this exceptional festival…
Dakar, 1966: the thunderbolt The theme of the Dakar Festival, from 1st to 24th April 1966, was “The Function and Importance of Black and African Art, for Peoples and in Peoples”.
All our thanks to Mr William Greaves for his authorisation. www.williamgreaves.com All rights reserved William Greaves Productions.
Lagos, 1977: worldwide influence The second festival, from 15th January to 12th February 1977, took place in Lagos, Nigeria – the guest of honour at the first FESMAN. Under the name of FESTAC and the subheading “2nd World Festival of Black and African Arts”, it addressed the theme of “black civilisation and education”.
All our thanks to the Audiovisual Section of the Bureau of Public Information at UNESCO for its authorisation. FESTAC 77, dir. Peter Gaunt (27 minutes). All rights reserved. UNESCO/Nigerian Television, Lagos.
