Former Nigerian President Olusegun Obasanjo and former Kenyan Prime Minister Raila Odinga yesterday urged Africans to embrace cultural unity and diversity.

They highlighted the importance of celebrating the continent’s rich and varied cultural heritage while promoting a sense of shared identity.

The duo called for unity among African nations, stressing that cultural diversity should be seen as a strength that binds the continent together, rather than as a dividing force.

Obasanjo and Raila spoke as they officially launched the week-long 5th Edition Festival of African Arts and Culture (FESTAC),2024 in Kisumu City.

Over 7,200 delegates from 50 African countries are expected to grace the event, with Festac organizers disclosing that by yesterday, over 5,000 delegates were in.

The festival is a reminder of the power of culture in fostering solidarity, peace, and development across Africa, pairing Africans at Jomo Kenyatta Stadium in Kisumu.

Cultural heritage

The event celebrates the continent’s rich cultural heritage through performances, art, and discussions aimed at fostering a sense of collective identity while honoring the unique traditions of various African communities.

Raila said this Festac festival serves as a platform for cultural exchange, uniting African nations to showcase their diversity while promoting unity and collaboration.

The theme for this year’s Festac event is “Sustainable Growth Trajectory for Africa through Culture, Trade, Travel and Tourism.” “It is a great pleasure to join so many Africans from across the continent and the world to celebrate Africa and its culture. We welcome those from different parts of the world who have made time to be here and see how it was and how it is at the cradle of humankind as we celebrate culture. We are all at home,’’ said Raila

He congratulated the city of Kisumu for bringing this great event home. I equally thank the organizers for staging a show that is designed to leave a mark.

“Indeed, Africa is coming of age. We are here to celebrate African culture as expressed in food, music, stories, dances, business, fashion and sports, among others,’’ Raila said. This meeting is very much in line with aspiration 5 of Agenda 2063 of the African Union which envisages an Africa with a strong cultural identity, common heritage, shared values and ethics and focused on pan-Africanism.

Rich culture

Aspiration 5 commits to tapping Africa’s rich heritage and culture to ensure that the creative arts are major contributors to the continent’s growth and transformation.

“We have to admit that as a continent, we have not invested enough in creative industries and we have not used the industry as we should, to unite our people and integrate the continent, “said Raila

He quipped: “At events like this, we reaffirm what we often take for granted or even doubt; that Africans are one people. There is nothing you are going to find here in Kenya that looks weirdly different and unimaginable to a person from Senegal or Zambia or Egypt. In a way, we are unique when it comes to culture.”

When you go to Asia, Raila observes that there are many different kinds of Eastern culture. You meet Chinese, Japanese, Korean, and Vietnamese people. “You go to Western culture you meet equally many different cultures; German, British, French; English, American. When it comes to Africa, there is a strong sense of uniformity,’’ said the former Premier.

 “We are all a product of our group experiences. We all distill our lessons and transmit the distilled knowledge of what is beneficial for our societies to succeeding generations,’’ he explained amid applause from the huge crowd.

Raila claimed that for years, Africans have never harnessed their music, food, stories and family connections to deliberately pursue unity and advance our cause as a people.

“The Congolese music is enjoyed across the entire continent just like the music from Cameroon, Nigeria, and Tanzania. Ethiopian, Somali and Nigerian dishes are getting enjoyed across the continent. But that is where it ends. Good food, good music and nothing more,’’ claimed Raila

But Africans have never deployed these as tools for oneness.  We are clinging hard to borders and boundaries that were set up by colonialists and define things that should unite us by countries of origin.

“It is a pity that over 60 years since most of our countries attained independence, we are still divided and proud to be divided by the languages our colonial masters imposed on us: Anglophones, Francophones, and Lusophones at a time the owners of those colonial languages are forging a united Europe,’’ claimed Raila.

Raila argued that there is no Anglophone or Francophone Europe. But there is Anglophone and Francophone Africa.