By; Niyi Ogungbola, Abeokuta.
The Former President, Chief Olusegun Obasanjo has described Africa as a root of humanity and globalization, which he said was later, spread to the rest of the world.
Obasanjo stated this wednesday in Abeokuta when he received members of the Centre for Black and Civilization (CBAAC) of the Federal Ministry of Tourism, Culture and National Orientation, led by the Director General (DG), Dr. Anikwe Ferdinand.
Chief Obasanjo was the Head of State in 1977 when the last edition of FESTAC was held, after the first edition of 1966 in Dakar.
He stated that 40 years after, “we are yet to have the third edition. That is the more reason we must take the lead again to celebrate 40 years after we held the last one.
“This brings happy memory and nostalgic feelings. I think it is very thoughtful on the part of the management to put some events in video. I want to congratulate the group for coming alive with this, which is coming 40 years after it was held.”
Obasanjo who was allowed to watch about 30 minutes documentary of some parts of the FESTAC’77 observed that, “it will ginger our people to be proud of showing the world the culture of Africa and the Blackman.
“It will show the world that humanity starts from Africa. That migration starts from Africa before entering Middle East, Asia, Europe and cross to the Americas and Australia. We are the centre of the world and we must be proud of it.
“We started the process of globalization and we exported humanity to the rest of the world. But, the past have eluded us, the future must not evade from our land. I am totally supporting this anniversary which will be coinciding with my 80th birthday anniversary,” Obasanjo said.
The former President also promised to facilitate the coming of past African leaders to the country for the anniversary.
In his speech earlier, the CBAAC Director General had told Obasanjo that the Centre had come to intimate him of the 40th anniversary of FESTAC’77.
“Since the FESTAC’77, past African leaders have not taken interest in the hosting of the cultural festival of such magnitude, as we only use sports to show our culture since we realized that it is the only unifying factor. We did not tap from the experience of FESTAC’77 and we believe that it’s this 40th year anniversary that can allow us to bring Africa together once again like we did in 1977,” Ferdinand stressed.
