By Damiete Braide 

Nigeria will collaborate with Ghana to celebrate the forthcoming 40th anniversary of the second world Festival of Black African Arts and Culture (FESTAC) amid pomp and funfare. The anniversary which coincides with the 80th birthday of the former president of Nigeria, Chief Olusegun Obasanjo.

Director General of Centre for Black African Arts and civilisation (CBAAC), Sir Ferdinand Anikwe, made this known in Lagos when Ghanaian High Commissioner to Nigeria, William Azumah Awinador-Kanyirige, paid him a courtesy visit at the corporate office of CBAAC in Lagos.

According to Anikwe, “There is a link between both countries, and it was emphasised during the colonial times. It has been a strong phenomenon that Nigerians and Ghanaians had interacted even before the Whiteman came to Africa. But, for the fact that they partitioned Africa in 1845, the British who chose us also chose Ghana, and that is why we both speak the same lingual franca.”

The DG explained further that CBAAC was a Pan African organisation, with interest to keep promoting interracial understanding. “It is in this aspect that we appreciate the presence of the Ghanaian ambassador to Nigeria, he said, adding, “Both governments have played interesting rules in promoting peace and development in the African continent, and, of course, the blacks in Diaspora.”

He continued: “It is the second world Festival of Black African Arts and Culture FESTAC which Nigeria hosted in 1977. This experience will be 40 years this year, and we want to make it as memorable as possible. We have lined up a lot of programmes for the year to ensure that make people remember this beautiful contribution to human development.

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“We have natural endowments and cultural programmes that are superior to people from other races and this underscores the fact that FESTAC 77 at 40 should be seen and acknowledged by all Africans and the blacks in Diaspora as a focus for the development of that continent’s political development, thus bringing the creative generals today is ruling the world.”

He regretted that, unlike the Asian Tigers, who had attained a prominent status in the committee of nations by saving their culture from imperialism, “unfortunately in Africa, we allowed our culture to be dominated with imperialism with all the destruction, but, today, we thank God that the revival of our culture is much more sought after by the same colonial masters that killed it to destroy it,” he echoed, calling on all Africans to identify with this innovative approach of FESTAC 77 at 40.

In his address, the Ghanaian High Commissioner to Nigeria, Awinador-Kanyirige said: “We need to take our culture more seriously and explore possible inwards of corporation between Nigeria and Ghana. We are like twins, because we come from the same source in terms of blood relations.

“We have similar orientations, same historical heritage. It is only natural that we should be seen to partner each other beyond Ghana/Nigeria relations and beyond African continent, especially our brothers in Diaspora who have playing a key role in ensuring the African renaissance.”

Speaking on the forthcoming 40th anniversary of FESTAC, the High Commissioner said: “It is a huge opportunity and, in terms of change, both in Nigeria and Ghana to move forward, we must make sure that the dignity of Africa is properly restored so that we can contribute shoulder to shoulder with others from other parts of the world.

“We can make our communities better and, wherever people are given birth to in Nigeria and Ghana and other African countries, our dignity is restored. And, in so doing, we share it with our brothers outside, and not having a clique of people who enjoy so much yet the ordinary people are still suffering.”