"Orchestre Poly Rythmo de Cotonou" does not have to be introduced here ... but
FESTAC '77 was a great art and cultural assembly of Africans and African-Americans that was held for one month in Nigeria from the 15th Jan. until the 12th Feb. 1977. It was truly a class act that brought people of all races and nationalities to Nigeria in celebration of acts and culture that has since not been surpassed.
Most of the festival took place in Lagos State - in the main, conference and cinema halls of the National Theatre, Iganmu which was built for the event; the National Stadium in Surulere; Tafawa Balewa Square in Lagos; and in the Lagos City Hall; except for the Durbar, a spectacular involving over 3000 horses which took place in Kaduna State.
The Grand Patron of the event was President Olusegun Obasanjo, the current president of Nigeria, who was then a Lt. General of the Nigerian Armed Forces and the Head of the Federal Military Government. The President of the 2nd World Black and African Festival of Arts was the then Cmdr Ochegomie Promise Fingesi, who was then Nigeria's Commissioner for Special Duties.
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The Second Festival of Black & African Arts and Culture of 1977 was an event that could not be ignored, and practically impossible to top or even to copy given the present state of affairs in Africa. Almost 30 years have passed, and there has not been a third Festac. To its detractors, it was an exhibition of excess. However, no one can deny that it was the greatest gathering of African cultures of all time.
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