INTRODUCTION

The Second World Black and African Festival of Arts and Culture which was held in Nigeria from January 15 to February 12, 1977 has been described as a huge success. It started as a mere idea in Paris in 1956, where the Paris-based Pan-African Cultural Society summoned a meeting of Black and African writers and Artists to discuss the "resurgence" of the Blackman's culture. The meeting came out with a determination to "propagate" the values and originality of Black culture.

The interest generated by the ideas, discussion and decisions at that meeting motivated the second Congress of African Writers and Artists held in Rome in 1959. It was this meeting that generated the demand for the first Black Cultural Festival which was ultimately held in Dakar , Senegal in April, 1966. The Festival lasted for just two weeks. Nigeria renewed prominence at this Dakar event was ascribed to her rich cultural heritage.

Nigeria was offered the right to host the Second Festival, which was initially slated for 1970. The Festival could not hold perhaps due to the civil war 1967-­70 and its aftermath. It was rescheduled for 1974, but again could not hold because the required facilities for the event were not ready. After due consultation with other participants, the International Festival Committee of the Festival thus ratified the new date of January 15 February 12, 1977 as scheduled by the then Military Government under the leadership of Lt. General Olusegun Obasanjo.

The CBAAC Initiative

In order that the dialogue/Colloquium may achieve the expected results, it was thought necessary to submit for mediation at least the essential elements all the Black and African peoples of the world for whom the objectives were intended and through them, all fellow human beings. Thus, the Nigerian Government thought it wise and indeed was determined to create a Museum of Black Africans Arts and Civilization and to publish the essential elements of the proceedings of the colloquium.

In addition to other numerous works of art on display at the Festival, the Museum was to preserve all the colloquium documents, all the papers read and discussed, all the papers received, all the correspondence relating to the colloquium. all the tape recorded debates, all the films and photographs taken during the Colloquium. To the benefit of, and made available to all scholars from any part of the world who would like to do further research on the work embarked upon during the proceeding.

CBAAC thus became the choice Federal Parastatal under the supervision of the Federal Ministry of Culture and Tourism established via Decree 69 of 1979. It takes custody of all materials and artifacts on display at FESTAC '77 by the 59 Black and African countries that participated in the Festival. In addition to this mandate of cultural importance, it has the responsibility of spearheading the promotion and propagation of global understanding and appreciation of Black and African culture.

In the discharge of its mandate, CBAAC holds lectures, seminars, symposia, workshops and exhibitions reminiscent of the Festival itself. CBAAC also has a library, an art gallery, a studio, and a Hall of Fame with varied collections of cultural and historical significance to Black and African people allover the world.