By Michael Peters, The Sight News
Abuja: As part of activities marking this year’s World Day for Audiovisual Heritage,the Director General, Center for Black Africa Art and Civilization(CBAAC), Dr. Ferdinand Anikwe has disclosed that FESTAC77 40th anniversary celebration will enable Nigeria bring back its history and x-ray the contributions of its great artistes in 1977.
Making the disclosure on Friday at the UNESCO regional office in Abuja at a forum to mark World Day for Audiovisual Heritage,he announced that the countries that participated in the 1977 festival and more countries have been invited to showcase their cultures.
He noted that the event which will hold at the Sports Center, University of Lagos, Lagos State on November 6th to the 10th, will feature several drama presentations, dances from cultural troops from across Africa, as well as the most handsome Pan African pageant, adding that, “FESTAC 77 at 40 is one of the best things that will happen to us as a nation”.
He further stated that African countries must begin to tap into the economic benefits of the creative industry in order to boost the continent’s Gross Domestic Product, GDP.
“Those of us in creative economies remember that it holds the greatest promise for the African continent. Africa can become a true tourism destination for the world when we begin to maximally exploit the creative geniuses in us”.
In his remark, the Minister of Information and Culture, Lai Mohammed described the preservation of the nation’s cultural heritage as the greatest legacy that can be bequeathed to the next generation.
“At this stage of our national life we cannot but preserve and promote our audiovisual heritage for posterity. This is to authenticate the saying by Xunzi “what I hear, I forget. What I see, I remember. What I do, I understand”.
He reiterated government’s resolve to ensure that Nigeria’s heritage is preserved and promoted to serve as a benchmark for sustainable development.
Alhaji Mohammed who was represented by the Deputy Director, UNESCO division at the Ministry, Miss Ruby David commended UNESCO and CBAAC for putting together the event.
On her part, the Director General of UNESCO, Irina Bokova in her message delivered by the Regional Director, Saidou Sireh Jallo, stated that at striving to preserve national heritages, nations of the world must rise above the common threats to films and recorded sounds – archives such as neglect, chemical decay and technical obsolescence.
The World Day For Audiovisual Heritage with the theme, “Discover, Remember And Share”, is an occasion to raise general consciousness of the need to take urgent actions and to recognize the importance of audiovisual documents.
