The 2011 edition of the Black History Month celebration might have come and gone, the memory of the lecture and exhibition facilitated by the Centre for Black and African Arts and Civilisation (CBAAC) held at the University of Ibadan last Thursday would continue to linger.THE organisers of the yearly celebration of the Black History MonthCentre for Black and African Arts and Civilisation (CBAAC)appeared to have mastered the strategy of synchronising the importance of the event with the calibre of its guest speaker. Again, this strategy manifested last Thursday at the Trenchard Hall, University of Ibadan, Ibadan Oyo State with the parade of Prof. Lupwishi Mbuyamba, Executive Director, Observatory for Cultural Policies in Africa (OCPA), Maputo, Mozambique as the guest speaker. The theme of the lecture: African Diaspora, African Unity and African Development captured the on-going agitation for the continent to drive its development giving its rich human and natural resources. Presided over by the Vice Chancellor, University of Maiduguri, Prof. Mohammed Mala Daura, the lecture attracted large turn-out of participants from various strata of the society including royalty presence by Oba Dokun Abolarin, the Orangun of Oke-Ila. In his opening remarks, CBAAC Director-General, Prof. Tunde Babawale traced the genesis of the yearly anniversary of the Black History Month to the United States when Negro History week was initiated by the renowned African American historian, Dr. Carter Godson Woodson, to protest the exclusion of the contributions of African Americans from history text books in the United States. He recalled: Since it began in 1926, the celebration of the Black History Month as an annual event has grown and gained global acceptance. Over the years, the Centre for Black and African Arts and Civilisation has used it to direct attention to matters of concern to Black and African peoples of the world. The choice of the theme of 2011 election, according to Babawale, is to explore the importance and benefits of Africas Diaspora to the continents unity and development. Besides, the theme, he explained further, was in line with the United Nations Declaration of this year (20111) as the International Year of the People of African Descent. According to the UN, the International Year for People of African Descent is declared to promote knowledge and respect for African heritage and culture and ensure the participation and integration of people of African descent into their society. The centre as a pan African agency established by the Federal Government of Nigeria to preserve, promote, and propagate African culture is proud to be associated with this declaration by the United Nations. Africas Diaspora, Babawale declared, remains a hugely untapped resource by Africa itself. There are quite a number of ways Africa can benefit from the Diaspora. Africa can tap from her Diasporas link to vast global networks that can make the continent gain strategic access to wealth, information, innovative business ideas and skills. Africans in the Diaspora, given their exposure to western technologies and education are in a vantage position to transfer same for the growth and the development of the African continent. Africas Diaspora also can help to promote voluntary self-help development projects that can rescue the continent from near collapse of social services. The continents Diaspora remains the mirror that reflects the resourcefulness of Africas global presence and the beauty in her cultural diversity and ways of life. Minister of Culture and Tourism, Alhaji Abubakar Sadiq Muhammed expressed delight that he was part of the CBAACs yearly celebration of Black History Month. Represented by the Acting Artistic Director, National Troupe of Nigeria, Mr. Martins Adaji, the minister said the occasion provided a memorable platform for the celebration of achievements of Africans and people of African descent and their contributions to global development. The minister also expressed satisfaction with the activities of the culture agency, pledging, as long as this tempo of achievements is sustained, CBAAC will continue to get the ministrys support for its activities. Commenting on the lecture as well as the exhibition, which was later declared open at the Institute of African Studies, University of Ibadan where CBAACs Outreach Centre is located, Alhaji Sadiq Mohammed said, these are unique ways of celebrating the Black History Month which now has global recognition. The celebration of Black History Month in this manner redirects our attention not only to the need for cultural rediscovery and reawakening, but also provides us the opportunity for deep reflection on how to advance the cause of African development. The minister explained further: Africas Diaspora provides the continent and our country, Nigeria with the unique opportunity to achieve unity and development. The people of African descent which constitute the continents Diaspora is not restricted to Africans who are found in all parts of the world as a result of enslavement alone but includes those on economic migration. Records have shown that these Diasporas are not doing badly and are significantly contributing their quota to socio-economic development of the various countries in which they are located around the world. The United States of America and Brazil are good examples of countries where people of African descent are doing well and contributing their quota to development. The general improvements in the living standards of people in such countries are therefore testimonies to the industry, contributions and relevance of Africas Diaspora. The continent can also tap into these advantages. Unlike the continents natural resources whose economic advantages are subject to dictates of market forces and are expendable, Culture minister submitted that, Africas Diaspora confers on the continent limitless opportunities of socio-economic growth and development. The continents Diaspora is also best placed to market the economic advantages that potential investors can enjoy in their home countries. Nigerias cultural industries stand to benefit from such efforts. He therefore canvassed the process of identifying and attracting our Diaspora whose unique contributions have helped the growth and development of societies they live in. The guest speaker whose experience and erudition in cultural and pan Africanism lifted the quality of his presentation tasked African youths to embrace the challenge of perpetuating the legacy of Africas founding fathers. You are the intellectuals preparing to take over and perpetuate the legacy of the founding fathers of the liberation movements of Africa. This is a challenge! Are you prepared to meet it Prof. Mbuyamba said. But for the desire growth and development to be realised, he said Africans have to believe in their own capacity to transform and to develop that the change, the progress can happen. Africa will develop from the Africans conviction, determination and rationale commitment and action. The Africas future is in Africans hands, all scholars, youth, women, local, national decision makers, civil society sharing the same vision. He however directed a clarion call to the Youth of Africa, insisting, You are the future. This is the Road Map your elders are drawing for your long itinerary: cultivate the love for your homeland, the Mother Africa; initiate and get used to the intellectual efforts for study and analysis in all circumstances; establish cultural and professional associations, microcosms of the world to come; get to know the governance exercise and observe the on-going events; publish the results of your studies and reflections and produce information and promotion materials; connect and confront your experiences to those of colleagues in the African Diaspora; transcend the divisions of ethnicity, nationality, religion, ideology and class; have a dream of Africa and design what you see it will be like; take commitment to dedicate your life to Africa and fight for its place and voice in the world governance. The attention later shifted to the Institute of African Studies where an exhibition on Diaspora and Continental African Icons: Quest for Unity and Development was hosted to explore the same theme of the 2011 Black History Month anniversary.
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