Due to former President
Olusegun Obasanjo’s contributions to the successful celebration of Festac 77 in
1977, the Centre for Black and African Arts and Civilisation (CBAAC) has
concluded plans to crown him the Ruby King of Festac in May in Abuja.
Dr Anikwe said the former president would be crowned the Ruby
King of Festac and the Patron of African Culture by the Ooni of Ife, Oba
Adeyeye Ogunwusi, Ojaja ll.
The Director- General, CBAAC, said on Tuesday in Lagos that it was part of
activities to commemorate four decades after the event was hosted by Nigeria.
Chief Olusegun Obasanjo was Nigeria’s military head of state
when the country hosted the festival in 1977.
Obasanjo appears as the greatest, in terms of the promotion of
African culture in the whole of Africa and the black world, by the singular
effort he demonstrated by organising and hosting Festac 77.
There has not been any other event that can be compared with it;
so, any form of positive accolade will not be too much for him. In a rare understanding of what the event would contribute
toward showcasing Black and African cultural heritage then, Obasanjo quickly
made wise consultations, recognised the international festival committee and
other communities.
He put square pegs in square holes, made funds available and
eventually a festival that could be described as the largest assemblage of
Black and African people worldwide was held from Jan.15, 1977 to Feb.12, 1977.
The event was not only momentarily successful; it could also be
described as a watershed in the Pan- Africans’ struggle.
It is to Obasanjo’s eternal credit that Festac 77 covered the
entire gamut of Black and African cultural heritage. Anikwe urged other Africans to emulate Obasanjo by doing things
worthy of emulation, celebration, symbolism, recognisable and crowning, to earn
the admiration of Africans. Activities to mark Festac 77@ 40 would hold in over 10 states
including the Federal Capital Territory (Abuja) where the Mascot would be
unveiled.
It would also entail different cultural displays that would hold
in some states including Katsina, Enugu, Ogun, Kaduna, Akwa- Ibom and some
foreign countries.
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