Festac Africa 2025 Aims To Bridge Divisions And Promote Unity Across The Continent

‘Festac Africa seeks to link Africans more’

Africans do not talk to each different more, and truthful do not cognize each different well; and this is nan logic why Africans not only do not get on arsenic nations to nations, but besides arsenic people to people arsenic exemplified by nan heavy taste divisions moreover wrong African countries, Chairman of Festac Africa Engineer Yinka Abioye tells MARTIN-LUTHER C. KING successful this question and reply successful Accra, Ghana. But he assures that Festac Africa 2025 which holds successful Accra, Ghana from 21-27 September, 2025 will span nan spread by building compassion and knowing among Africans not only successful nan homeland but besides crossed nan world.
Excerpts:

Why is Ghana nan prime to big Festac Africa 2025?

When we brought Festac back, nan renaissance of Festac, successful 2022 aft nan covid, we asked ourselves ‘Where could we put this post-covid?’ South Africa could person been nan easiest place, because we (the level that organizes are based retired of South Africa. However, we knew that South Africa was a state that was not readily unfastened because of covid, When we made nan announcement, judge it aliases not, nan Maldives requested that we bring Festac to them. At a clip erstwhile ll nan tourism locations were looking for caller businesses.

But it was conscionable excessively difficult for america to renaissance thing aft 40 years and spell to different continent. The money was tempting, particularly astatine a clip hen tourer locations astir nan world were looking for ways to resuscitate and rejuvenate their recreation economy. After we considered South Africa closely, we past asked ourselves which different countries successful Africa are very improbable to unopen down should location beryllium a spike of covid again.

We realized nan champion stake would beryllium Tanzania. And wrong Tanzania, nan land of Zanzibar is ninety-something per cent inclined towards tourism. So we knew that if location is immoderate state that would beryllium limited connected tourism, it would beryllium Zanzibar, and that nan chances of them closing down because of covid was very small. So, we chose Zanzibar. Interestingly, omicron happened successful February (2022), truthful we are thankful to God that we didn’t prime South Africa.

That would person made each our efforts to person gone waste. We picked Zanzibar and went into Zanzibar. Our reasoning was to spell to location wherever we could incubate for 3 years, learn, make mistakes, and past cognize wherever to spell next. When we sewage into Zanzibar, a batch of group laughed astatine us, saying Why do thing that would bring a batch of group together correct while covid was still around. But, we knew covid had to extremity eventually; and that nan world cannot move guardant without coming together. So, we took nan consequence of doing it successful 2022 complete location successful Zanzibar .

When you look astatine nan number of participants (at that event), astir 2000, you mightiness say, Wow, that is very debased for a (continental) show that lasted a week, for that matter. Yes,it is. But, it was astatine a clip erstwhile covid was still successful town. Also, we were renaissancing a task that had been dormant for 45 years. But we knew that yet we would climb. And that’s why we took nan risk. So, we did Zanziar; and, nan activity successful Tanzania now said ‘O’ wow, we spot nan early of this, we spot nan worth successful what you are doing; please, bring it to nan mainland’. that was really successful nan pursuing twelvemonth we went to mainland Tanzania, that is Arusha, Tanzania, 2023.

I tin show you that nan guidance (of nan organising company) was hands-on successful what we are doing. So, each lessons learned were each learnt by each of america All nan mistakes made, thing you tin say, we each person been done it pinch a batch of confidence. That is not to say, though, that we couldn’t person been better. But we cognize now what things that we did correct and what things we did wrong. So each those helped america to move into nan adjacent phase, which was 2024, and, for a batch of reasons, successful Kisumu, Kenya. At a constituent aft we did Kisumu, we realized that consecutively we had done 3 years successful eastbound Africa. The eastbound Africans don’t cognize thing astir Festac.

When I opportunity ‘don’t’, I mean 9798 percent of them do not cognize thing astir Festac. Now they know, they person an idea. Even successful westbound Africa, different than Nigerians complete 50 location are not galore that cognize astir Festac. When you inquire nan younger ones astir Festac, they’ll show you Festac was a autobus stop, it was a constabulary station, it was barbering salon, aliases it was Festac Town; that’s each they know. Because it had turned into truthful galore things. And, I don’t blasted anyone.

Because, nan acronym aliases nan connection ‘Festac’ came retired of nan nickname ‘Festival of Arts and Culture’ So, it was really not nan title of nan festival; it was conscionable a name; it was a spin-off. So, we started looking for wherever we had to spell next. We knew we needed to look astatine westbound Africa very closely. Especially arsenic Senegal braces for nan 60th twelvemonth day (of nan first ever Festac arena held successful Senegal successful 1966;; and, Nigeria braces for 50 years of nan 1977 Festac arena held successful Lagos. Therefore, bringing it this measurement (to Ghana, a state successful westbound Africa) is nan correct point to do. We’d done 3 years connected that broadside (east Africa), now let’s travel successful and do 3 years connected this broadside (west Africa).

Maybe different things will metamorphosise successful nan adjacent respective years astir what we are doing. And, this is portion of why we came present (to Ghana). We picked September because it is tourism month, and September 27 is tourism day. We besides picked September because it is Kwame Nkrumah’s day month. So we are truthful fortunate to person a Sunday to Sunday arena week that encompasses Nkrumah’s day anniversary and World Tourism Day. That’s why we are here. And, we are very grateful.

Why was location a agelong play of inactivity betwixt Festac 1977 and Festac 2022 erstwhile you revived nan event?

There are to schools of thought arsenic to why: 1 schoolhouse of thought said it was owed to negligence connected nan portion of African leaders; nan different said it was owed to nan power of outer forces that were against our group coming together again successful that size and successful that measurement arsenic was seen during Festac 1977. But for me, I don’t want to blasted anyone for my problems. Regardless of what had happened, it is our occupation to make judge that we present connected what we request to do. So, I will spell pinch nan remark by erstwhile Nigerian President Olusegun Obasanjo that it was really our ain leaders connected nan continent who did not travel done connected what needed to beryllium done (to prolong nan Festac initiative). We cannot blasted others for our misfortunes. To person overlooked a task of nan size and magnitude (of nan Festac celebrations) and which tells of who we (Africans and blacks) are and what we guidelines for was a correction connected our portion arsenic Africans. (Luckily) we person now resuscitated it. The only point I tin opportunity now successful that we request everybody astir america to travel together and support america to make judge that it (Festac) does not dice again.

What activities person been lined up for nan week-long event?

It’s going to beryllium a ‘Come and acquisition Africa successful a week’ benignant of event. In reality, it’s going to beryllium a small spot beyond 1 week. Because we (started with) nan first-ever inter-country float (on Friday 19 September). Most times if you spell to nan Caribbean you spot nan floats; particularly successful Trinidad and Tobago, successful Jamaica, among others.

These are floats that would move astir nan neighborhoods. We (took) a float, a dancing caravan from Lagos (Nigeria) to Accra (Ghana); meaning they (had) to transverse 4 countries. We (did) that connected Friday 19 September. We (did) it connected Friday nan 19th because we (wanted) to usage Friday (the adjacent day) to rest.

We (had to) unafraid immoderate bikers to travel on pinch america and to springiness nan float a carnival atmosphere. We are grateful that ECOWAS’ free activity protocol is (worked) pinch america to lessen nan headache astatine nan borders. We ((had) complete a 1000 group that travelled (on nan float). We are very grateful to (the) ECOWAS (Commission) for helping america connected this.

They (had) talked to each nan migration group successful each nan countries nan float (had to) walk done astir what we are doing. We had 50-seater buses and different smaller vehicles. Because of laissez passér, aliases costs of crossing over, not each motorcycle that (came was) capable to transverse over.

So we (had to talk) to different motorcycle groups from nan respective countries and discussed pinch them that nan Nigerian bikers (could) thrust pinch nan float from Lagos to Seme separator post; nan Beninois bikers (met nan float) astatine nan Seme separator and (rode) pinch them to Hilacondji separator post; nan Togolese bikers likewise (met) nan float astatine Hilacondji separator station and (rode) pinch them to Aflao separator post. At nan clip (the float arrived) astatine Aflao border, nan Ghanaian bikers (met them there).

And, nan Ghana Tourism Authority (GTA), our partners, pinch their yellowish bus, besides (bussed) pinch them into Accra. The thought is that (the float) should get betwixt 2pm and 4pm, during nan time for information reasons. When they arrived ((Accra), we each met astatine nan Accra Sports Stadium pinch nan deejay conscionable to person a beautiful invited into Ghana. (Next day,) Saturday, will beryllium a time of relaxation.

If I tin plug this, because you ne'er cognize who is listening (or reading), I still opportunity that we will emotion to person (the) ECOWAS (Commission) do thing connected Saturday, moreover if it’s conscionable to sponsor a deejay and immoderate drinks Because ECOWAS turned 5 this year. I don’t deliberation nan citizens of ECOWAS cognize that ECOWAS has turned 50. The leaders cognize that ECOWAS has turned 50, but nan citizens don’t know.

So to observe and effect what ECOWAS stands for, group request to cognize what happened. So we are asking them to fto america do thing connected Saturday. Even if it is 1 hr of playing euphony to punctual people, fto america do that. September, and Dr. Nkrumah’s birthday. We are not going to do thing connected that time because we do not want to dilute nan Ghana government’s nationalist effort successful celebrating Dr. Nkrumah.

We won’t do thing connected that day, except, maybe, to person a cocktail connected Sunday evening. And past connected Monday (22 September), location will e speeches successful nan morning, and successful nan evening we’ll do nan ‘dinner successful nan dark’. Everyday astatine nan main crushed of nan Independence Square, from 9 americium nan accumulation will open, because location is accumulation going on, and it will spell connected till astir 6pm aliases 7pm. Side by broadside pinch that, location will beryllium music, and each nan entertainment, taste and everything, from 10 americium to astir midnight, mundane passim nan week correct up to Saturday (27 September). While those are going on, Tuesday, Wednesday and Thursday (23-25 September), are nan conferences. And, those will beryllium astatine nan Accra International Conference Centre, which is for illustration a artifact distant from nan Independence Square.

On Tuesday (23 September), we’ll person a convention connected trade, tourism and tech. On Wednesday (24 September), we’ll do women empowerment, youth, and nan Writers’ Retreat arsenic I said earlier. On Thursday (25 September), we’ll do peace, food, and ambiance action. Those are what we’ll beryllium doing astatine nan conferencing. Conferencing will usually beryllium from 9 americium to astir 2pm aliases 2:30pm. After that everybody would travel to travel to person luncheon astatine nan main grounds. After they would not request to spell backmost to nan convention anymore, because we want group connected nan crushed (of nan Independence Square).

On Monday evening there’s nan ‘dinner successful nan dark’ arsenic I earlier mentioned. On Tuesday evening, there’s not overmuch planned for nan evening different than nan intermezo activities connected nan shape that would still beryllium going. Wednesday (24 September) is Heritage Day successful South Africa, and it’s a time we besides want to usage to beforehand much togetherness.

The South African Embassy and nan Zimbabwean Embassy successful Ghana are going to compete to show who betwixt their 2 countries person nan champion meat, and who tin grill nutrient better. (For that completion), nan 2 countries are importing nutrient from their respective countries. On Thursday (25September), we are focusing connected peace. We are encouraging group to deterioration arsenic overmuch achromatic arsenic possible, because achromatic symbolizes peace.

On Friday (26 September), we will do nan culinary experiences; and we are pairing each nutrient retired location pinch nan Ghanaian chocolate: Kenyan beverage and java against nan Ghanaian chocolate. Same pinch Ethiopian coffee. Interestingly, it’s besides nan time for nan Ghana versus Nigerian jollof atom competition, nan last showdown. Believe it aliases not, we are moreover going to brace nan jollof atom dishes pinch Ghanaian chocolate, to make judge we bring retired nan powerfulness of nan cocoa and what person you.

Also connected that day, location will beryllium manner show successful nan evening pinch astir 12 artistes from each complete Africa coming to show their works. On Saturday (27 September) morning, location will beryllium a 5-kilometre walk.

How galore countries are going to participate successful nan manner show?

There are astatine slightest six to 8 different countries: Tunisia, Kenya, Nigeria, and Ghana, among others. On Saturday, location is simply a walk, a 5-kilomtre locomotion against gender-based violence, and to beforehand consciousness of nan harm caused by galamsey (Ghanaian coinage for forbidden golden mining) against nan environment. Don’t pollute (the environment. And nan locomotion is tagged ‘Let’s overgarment Ghana gold’. Everybody is going to deterioration yellowish pinch nan achromatic prima (t-shirts) for nan walk.

Those shirts are going to travel from Festac Africa organisers?

Yes, to nan group who are walking. We adjacent pinch a gala meal connected that Saturday. Sunday (28 September), we will beryllium breaking down and conscionable enjoying what is happening. While each of these are going connected starting connected Monday 22 September, nan Ghana National Sport Authority, which is besides a partner of ours, will beryllium doing a batch of sporting events astatine nan (Accra Sports) Stadium. So, erstwhile you travel to nan Independence Square, you tin conveniently locomotion crossed to nan sports stadium. In summation tothat, we are fortunate that our friends astatine FIBA (International Basketball Federation) are bringing nan Zone 3 (covering westbound Africa) of nan hoops tourney to Ghana that week because of us. So we person astir 10-15 group from 10 countries participating successful nan tournament, and that will propulsion successful astir different 150 group to Ghana to nan Festac event. We do everything we tin to bring (black and African) group together. And past we talk astir self-pride, self-promotion, a amended Africa, beryllium strong, beryllium safe, beryllium successful. Hopefully, each these will travel together (at Festac Africa 2025) and springiness america each nan positives we are looking for.

Who is down nan Festac Africa orgnisation?

Festac Africa’s genitor statement is called Inspire. We person ever done a batch of networking events. We really started this networking point arsenic acold backmost arsenic 2015. And we’ve been doing bilateral networking, putting 2 countries together. And, possibly because galore of america are from Nigeria, we had ever sounded this aliases that state against Nigeria successful truthful galore ways, but ever successful a affirmative way. We started pinch South Africa and Nigeria. South Africa’s nickname is Mzansi, Nigeria’s is Naija. So we person a marque called Mzansi-Naija. What it does is simply a play of group getting together and playing soccer. We are successful 1 state this twelvemonth and successful different nan next. If we are successful your state and we can’t find eleven group to play, we return nan section group there, put jerseys connected them to play for nan enjoyment of nan group there. It’s not a competitory point but conscionable thing we put together to network. We did that for a mates of years, and covid hit. After covid, we said Let’s spell into picking up nan full continent. Because erstwhile we were doing those bilaterals, we recovered retired that erstwhile we called a 3rd state to travel in, their power is not location because it doesn’t person their name. For instance, we do Mzansi-Naija and we telephone Tanzania successful to join; they subordinate alright, but they are not wholly excited. This was why we looked astatine Festac arsenic a level to bring everyone together.

You are a trained engineer. What is an technologist doing organizing thing for illustration Festac Africa?

I don’t know. If I show you I know, I will beryllium lying. I’ve worked successful a batch of industries. I utilized to creation pharmaceuticals. I’ve worked successful plastics. I’ve worked successful solvents. I worked successful lipid and state for truthful galore years, petrochemicals, lubricants. In what I telephone my sojourn successful firm life, I made immoderate effect that I americium proud of, particularly my moving astir nan streets of Africa arsenic a firm leader. So I person a batch protégés astir Africa that I had invested my clip in, and that I tin beryllium proud of who they are coming and wherever they are. When look overall, you person to look beyond conscionable paycheck but much connected what tin you springiness back. I person been astir fortunate. I person been to complete 80-85 per cent of African countries, and worked successful a batch of them. I was MD of Mobil successful Senegal immoderate 23-24 years ago. I person travelled nan continent very good each nan measurement to nan villages. What I spot arsenic a spread is nan truth that because we don’t cognize 1 different we (Africans) don’t get on (with each other) nan measurement we request to get along. When you unrecorded abroad, opportunity successful nan US aliases UK, and a Zimbabwean sees a Nigerian, he sees a brother, because they are successful a achromatic man’s land, and some of them are, perhaps, nan only ones that look alike successful that environment. But erstwhile they travel to their ain continent, they put nan wall up there. And immoderate of it is ignorance. So, to me, I spot it that we request to support talking much and much and much pinch each other. There are truthful galore of us, 1.4-1.5 billion, that we request to do this talking more. So what came retired of each of this is that successful arsenic overmuch arsenic I tin creation package arsenic an engineer, I tin make much effect by bringing group together. Also because mostly of america are successful nan firm world, we’ve besides benignant of done nan level truthful that it tin service arsenic an activation to besides turn businesses. Because we are going to request that infusion for business to perpetuate what we are doing. And, because it is time-costly and financially straining. But we convey God.

After Accra (Ghana), wherever will nan adjacent Festac Africa hold?

I judge we request to metamorphosise. The continent still needs 200 Festacs. Eventually, what we ‘ll get to is to regionalize. And past we tin person 1 continent-wide arena each 4 years. We are still going done a full batch of permutations astir what makes consciousness agelong term. We are talking to immoderate countries. Even for nan countries wherever we had done Festac we promote them to proceed it each year. They tin still usage nan level to bring their tribes together each year. Not only do we not get on arsenic nations to nations successful Africa, we besides person nan aforesaid divisions moreover wrong our countries. So we are hoping that this level builds compassion and understanding. If we person that, we each win.

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