The Second World Black and African Festival of Arts and Culture (known as Festac ’77), was a major international festival held in Lagos, Nigeria, from 15 January 1977 to 12 February 1977. The month-long event celebrated African culture and showcased to the world African music, fine art, literature, drama, dance and religion. About 16,000 participants, representing 56 African nations and countries of the African Diaspora, performed at the event. At the time it was held, it was the largest pan-African gathering to ever take place.
The opening ceremony of the festival took place inside the National Stadium, Surulere, Lagos. One of the highlights of the ceremony was a parade of participants representing 48 countries marching past visiting dignitaries, diplomats and the Nigerian Head of State, Olusegun Obasanjo. Some participants in the parade wore colourful ceremonial robes, some men were on 14-foot stilts, and Nigerian dancers carried flaming urns on their heads. To symbolize the freedom and unity of Black peoples 1,000 pigeons were released; a shango priest also set the festival bowl aflame.
Details
- Date of Issue: 18 January 1977
- Date Withdrawn:
- Date Invalidated:
- Designer: BG Studio
- Printer: Questa Colour Security Printers Limited (The House of Questa)
- Process: Lithography
- Paper:
- Watermark: None
- Perf: 13.5 (comb)
- Cylinders:
- Sheet: Printed in four panes and separated by horizontal and vertical gutters, and distributed in two two panes.
- 1A 1A 1A 1A : 1B 1B 1B 1B [upper right : lower right]
- 1C 1C 1C 1C : 1D 1D 1D 1D [upper left : lower left]
- Quantity:
Subjects
References
- Wikipedia: FESTAC 77