CENTRE FOR BLACK AND AFRICAN ARTS AND CIVILIZATION (CBAAC)

GENERAL INTRODUCTION

The Centre for Black and African Arts and Civilization (CBAAC) was established by Decree 69 of 1979, following the successful and epoch-making hosting of the 2 nd World Black and African Festival of Arts and Culture (FESTAC'77. The Centre houses all the materials, which constitute the core collections and those artifacts and rare cultural items that were used during FESTAC'77. The decision to handover these materials to Nigeria was to reinforce and build upon the gains of the historic Festival. It was in fulfillment of Nigeria 's pledge to keep the materials in trust for the 59 Black and African countries and communities which participated in the Festival that the Centre was established.

To achieve its set goals, CBAAC holds lectures, seminars, symposia, workshops and mounts exhibitions. 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 all over the world. The Centre also engages in other activities, which project the overall image of Black and African Peoples and enable their cultures to be appreciated globally. Statutorily, the Centre is charged with the responsibility of promoting and propagating Black and African Cultural Heritage in its totality. Through its numerous programmes, the Centre has continued to contribute to the pool of universal knowledge on Black and African Peoples.

The Centre has a strategic mandate and plays a key role in making Nigeria the arrowhead in the preservation, promotion and propagation of African cultural heritage. This informed the decision (vide Government white paper on the report of the Presidential Panel on the Review, Harmonization and Rationalization of Federal Parastatals, Institutions and Agencies in 2000) to upgrade CBAAC to an African Heritage Centre. A draft Executive Council Memo was submitted to the former Hon. Minister of Tourism, Culture and National Orientation in this regard.

VISION

To be the foremost Agency to encourage, initiate, facilitate and coordinate the retrieval and restoration of the natural and cultural heritage of the Black and African peoples for the purposes of protecting, preserving and projecting them for enhanced understanding and appreciation.

MISSION STATEMENT

To promote public interest in, understanding and appreciation of Black and African Arts and Culture with a view to emphasizing the contributions of Black and African Peoples to world civilization.