By JOAN ODAFE

Aisha Augie, Director-General of the Centre for Black and African Arts and Civilisation (CBAAC), says the agency is targeting the participation of about 100 countries in activities marking the 50th anniversary of the historic Second World Black and African Festival of Arts and Culture (FESTAC ’77) in 2027

She said it was part of efforts to strengthen cultural diplomacy and reconnect Africa with the global Black community.

Augie disclosed this during the inauguration of the Goge Africa Cultural Dialogue and Diplomacy Series 2026 on Thursday in Lagos.

The News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) reports that the event was organised by Goge Africa in collaboration with the Nigerian Institute of International Affairs (NIIA) and the Centre for Black and African Arts and Civilisation (CBAAC).

The dialogue was with the theme, ‘Eyo, Culture and Soft Power: Driving Diplomacy, Integration and Economic Growth.’

NAN reports that FESTAC ’77 refers to the Second World Black and African Festival of Arts and Culture.

The festival, which was hosted by Nigeria in Lagos from Jan. 15 to Feb. 12, 1977, was the largest pan-African gathering in history, bringing together over 17,000 artists, scholars and performers from 56 nations across Africa and the diaspora.

Augie said the anniversary would serve as a platform to celebrate Africa’s shared cultural heritage while deepening international partnerships through arts and culture.

She described FESTAC ’77 as one of Africa’s defining cultural moments, adding that CBAAC was determined to ensure its golden jubilee reflected its enduring relevance.

According to Augie, the planned celebration would bring together governments, cultural institutions, creatives and members of the African diaspora to promote dialogue, collaboration and cultural exchange.

Also speaking, the Director-General of the National Council for Arts and Culture, Obi Asika, said Nigeria must begin to treat its cultural assets as intellectual property capable of creating wealth and strengthening its global influence.

He emphasised that festivals, indigenous knowledge, music, fashion and storytelling should be protected and positioned to benefit both creators and communities.

Asika said culture was no longer just about preservation but also about ownership and value creation.

He noted that countries that successfully protected their cultural intellectual property were better placed to grow their creative economies and project their identities internationally.

Veteran actress Joke Silva said African stories should continue to be told by Africans, describing culture as a living heritage that shaped identity and connected generations.

Silva urged greater investment in preserving indigenous traditions and ensuring they remained relevant to younger audiences.

She said storytelling remained one of the continent’s greatest strengths, adding that protecting culture also meant creating opportunities for artists, performers and cultural practitioners whose work kept those traditions alive.

Earlier, Co-Founder and Managing Director of Goge Africa, Nneka Isaac-Moses, said the dialogue series was conceived to move culture from festivals and celebrations into policy conversations.

Isaac-Moses said Goge Africa chose Eyo as the inaugural focus because “it is one of Lagos’ most revered cultural institutions and demonstrates how heritage can drive diplomacy, tourism and economic growth.”

NAN further reports that a documentary presented at the event highlighted the history of the Eyo festival as a symbol of Lagos’ cultural identity and an ecosystem that supports artisans, traders, transport operators, hospitality businesses and other sectors.

It also recommended that culture should no longer be seen as a weekend affair but as a strategic tool for soft power, investment and sustainable development.

NAN further reports that the event featured a diplomatic dialogue involving representatives from China, Denmark, Burkina Faso and the United Kingdom.

The participants explored how cultural exchange could deepen international cooperation and strengthen relations among nations through shared heritage, creativity and people-to-people engagement. (NAN)

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