Former President Olusegun Obasanjo has urged Africans to be united for global advancement through the conscious re-enactment of cultural values and beliefs.

Mr Obasanjo made the call during a visit by the director-general of the Centre for Black and African Arts and Civilisation (CBAAC), Oluwabunmi Amao, on Monday at his residence in Abeokuta, according to a statement by the agency.

The former president, who reiterated his support for commemorating the 45th anniversary of the Festival for Arts and Culture (FESTAC ’77), said, “There is (a) need for Africans to be united for global advancement. This should be the essence of the forthcoming festival, meant to commemorate the 45th anniversary of FESTAC ’77.”

He added, “For Africa to achieve certain goals, the glory and beauty inherent in their different cultures must be dynamically harnessed and exported to different countries of the world. When these cultures are fully recognised overseas, more openings would be paved easily for several other Africans to preach their creativities at a global level.”

Mr Obasanjo recounted with nostalgia the events of FESTAC ’77, 45 years ago, as a military head of state and commended CBAAC for keeping the spirit of Pan-Africanism alive by revisiting the glorious era of Nigeria epitomised by FESTAC ’77.

He said he yearned for future celebrations that would bring the black and African people together, believing the commemoration would do that in many ways than envisaged, suggesting collaborations among countries, international cultural organisations, especially the African Union and other stakeholders as a way of recreating the festival.

(NAN)