SINCE the Centre for Black and African Art and Civilisation (CBAAC) was officially declared open on June 22, 1978 as a dynamic cultural Archives on Black and African peoples, the centre has been saddled with organising seminars, workshops, public lectures, exhibitions and symposia so that African cultures can be appreciated across the world.

The centre is charged with the responsibility of promoting and propagating Black and African Cultural Heritage; as a statutory body under the decree 69 of 1979. In discharging one of its responsibilities, the centre decided to take a giant stride to Trinidad and Tobago to make a resounding impact for the five-day international Conference themed; Advancing and Integrating Research and studies in the interest of African Diaspora.

About 35 papers were presented by scholars who are endowed in their respectable fields. They came from different universities and organisations around the world. The 15 countries in attendance were the Netherlands, United States, Trinidad and Tobago , Suriname, Gabon, Kenya, United Kingdom, Jamaica, St Lucia, Zambia , Israel , South Africa , Canada and Nigeria .

CBAAC partnered with the Pan-African Strategic and Policy Research Group (Panastrag) in collaboration with the faculty of Humanities and Education University of West Indies, St. Augustine Trinidad and Tobago as well as the institute for Research on the African Diaspora in America and the Caribbean (IRADAC), The City College, New York. The papers presented examined the universal issues that have deterred the development of Africa as a continent and African Diaspora.

Reflecting on the history of the slave trade that happened 430 years ago, as Professor Tunde Babawale said such memory leaves a scar where man becomes an essential product to be shipped across the shores of Africa for economical enrichment.

Professor Babawale sees these gruesome experience as exploitation that has crippled Africa politically and the retrogression of African culture. Babawale pointed out the impediment of cultural imperialism that has become a pest in Africa . He however said that this phenomenon must be fenced to save African cultural heritage.

Since the problem is a common challenge that bemoans the African continent, Babawale said that was what spurred the theme for the conference. The conference, which began at 7 p.m., had in attendance, the Prime Minister of Trinidad and Tobago , Honourable Patrick Manning, and Mr. Buba Tekune - Hie Nigerian acting high com­missioner to Trinidad and Tobago and the Registrar of the University of West Indies .

At the opening ceremony, Honourable Manning stated by commending the organizers to have chosen his home (Trinidad and Tobago) as venue for the conference. Adding that it would help strengthen the relationship of the African Union with the global African Diaspora. On their part, the minister said the Republic of Trinidad and Tobago has gone extra miles in work­ing relationships with many African countries in the area of communication, energy, sports and culture.

Professor Babawale sees these gruesome experience as exploitation that has crippled Africa politically and the retrogression of African culture. Babawale pointed out the impediment of cultural imperialism that has become a pest in Africa. He however said that this phenomenon must be fenced to save African cultural heritage.

On the energy sector, the minister pointed out that "as the number one exporter of Methanol and Ammonia in the world, Trinidad and Tobago had been offering free expertise to African countries'. Reflecting on the geographical location of Trinidad and Tobago, the minister said it is a small island that represents all human races across the globe.

According to him, Arch bishop Desmond Tutu was enthralled at the scenery differences that make it a rainbow country". As a tiny country, the minister said it has ethno cultural rivers and streams that do flow through the native Islands ".

He added that the British government and colonial officials once reported in the early and late 19th century that all races are represented in Trinidad and Tobago. To have embraced these races, Manning said is as a result of historical accident; adding that many years they have come to live together, what they appreciate mostly is the individual knowledge and under­standing.

To him, Trinidad welcomed Africans who migrated from Africa, Caribbean (French and Spanish), British and North America . The young country ( Trinidad and Tobago ) he said is a diaspora to the world.

As small as the country, Manning said there are different cultures taking place in various communities annually. He however, mentioned some of the Afro-based culture as music; art, folklore, literature, theatre and history.

Also he said that the two major racial groups (Trinidad and Tobago) earlier last year supported the Association of Caribbean Historians Conference (ACHC) organised by the Campus of the University of West Indies. It was in remembrance of the abolition of the slave trade to Trinidad in 1806.

Reflecting on the history of the slave trade that happened 430 years ago, as Professor Tunde Babawale said such memory leaves a scar where man becomes an essential product to be shipped across the shores of Africa for economical enrichment.

According to him, they are number one exporter of Methanol and Ammonia in the world. "We have been making our expertise in the energy sector freely available to African countries, to assist them with their own industrial development, which is a special contribution to the development of Africa and the African Diaspora at this time.

He however said "we have sought to increase bilateral co-operation with several African countries in the area of communication, technical co-operation, energy, sports and culture". An average of five papers was presented each day of the conference. The papers presented had more of Nigerian scholars followed by the host country and other countries across the globe.

Some of the professors from Nigeria include Duro Oni who presented a paper titled Towards an Appraisal of lnstitutes/Gentres for African/Cultural Studies in Nigeria, head, department of creative arts, University of Lagos, the director Institute of African Studies University of Nigeria Nsukka, Emeka Otagburuagui A.U. Iwara -Rethinking African Studies for the Developmental needs of Africa and the African Diaspora in a globalising world from the Institute of African Studies University of Ibadan, Death and the Masques of Identity: A look at some of the plays of Wole Soyinka and Derek Walcott, Femi Osofisan of Department of Theatre Arts, University of Ibadan, Olu Obafemi of the University of Ilorin, department of English presented Creative Discourse on identity and Nationhood: The writers Experience in Africa, America and the West Indies, Comfort Oluremi Sonaiya, Making Africa count in the 21 st Century: Steps towards a Reawakening of the department of Foreign Languages, Obafemi Awolowo University, among others.