FESTAC Africa 2024: Reviving African Unity Through Arts and Culture in Kisumu, Kenya

The 5th edition of the Festival of Arts and Culture Africa Festival (FESTAC) concluded its week-long celebrations in Kisumu, Kenya, from August 25 to September 1, 2024, attracting Black communities from across the globe to celebrate African heritage through arts and culture.

The festival, known for its lively display of African unity and cultural diversity, featured captivating performances by the Burundi Drummers and other participants, drawing attendees from Africa, Asia, Europe, and the Caribbean. Guests such as a man from Trinidad and Tobago expressed feelings of homecoming and excitement as the festival brought African nations closer through the arts.

FESTAC, which was first held in 1966 in Dakar, Senegal, and again in 1977 in Lagos, Nigeria, aims to revive Black and African culture and bring Africans together.

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This year’s event, organized by Yinka Abioye and praised by former Nigerian President Olusegun Obasanjo, focused on cultural exchange and economic partnerships within the continent.

Highlights of the festival included a Women Empowerment Conference, where notable figures such as the First Lady of Marsabit County, Alamitu Jattani, advocated against early marriages and gender-based violence. Additionally, the festival embraced inclusive programming with events like the ‘Dinner in the Dark’, designed to give participants insight into the challenges faced by the visually impaired.

The event also highlighted African fashion, entrepreneurship, and youth empowerment, with designers like Brenda Onono showcasing their work and speakers like Farzam Kamalabadi urging young Africans to embrace their potential as future leaders.