
01/02/2009 - 21/02/2009
Place of event: Dakar
This festival was initiated by the late President of Senegal, Leopold Sedar Senghor in April 1966 in Dakar. It was an event unlike any other in the cultural history.
The festival is a cultural crossroad for all African artists and the Diaspora.
For President Senghor it was time for African Governments to make decisions as far as African cultural heritage was concerned. In fact the African culture is different from others because of the crowned dimensions given to dance in the rituals and of the religious embodiment conferred to masks and statues representing divinities.
He mentioned the contribution of Africa to the transformation of Music, particularly Jazz and Blues which find their origin in the former slaves songs.
Its Objectives were:
- to question the cultural, material and spiritual heritage of the Black Diaspora.
- to redefine the roles of artists and intellectuals in the African Renaissance.
- to develop a better protection and a large distribution of the African works of art and culture.
- celebrate the artistic and literary identity and creativity of the African and the Diaspora intellectuals.
- to enable creators of the Black World to have the adequate conditions to connect them in a network.
The next festival will be held from the 1st - 21st February, 2009 in Dakar. The guest country is Brazil because of its history and its big Black community, second biggest after Nigeria.
The festival is a cultural crossroad for all African artists and the Diaspora.
For President Senghor it was time for African Governments to make decisions as far as African cultural heritage was concerned. In fact the African culture is different from others because of the crowned dimensions given to dance in the rituals and of the religious embodiment conferred to masks and statues representing divinities.
He mentioned the contribution of Africa to the transformation of Music, particularly Jazz and Blues which find their origin in the former slaves songs.
Its Objectives were:
- to question the cultural, material and spiritual heritage of the Black Diaspora.
- to redefine the roles of artists and intellectuals in the African Renaissance.
- to develop a better protection and a large distribution of the African works of art and culture.
- celebrate the artistic and literary identity and creativity of the African and the Diaspora intellectuals.
- to enable creators of the Black World to have the adequate conditions to connect them in a network.
The next festival will be held from the 1st - 21st February, 2009 in Dakar. The guest country is Brazil because of its history and its big Black community, second biggest after Nigeria.





Welcome to Dakar, we are your local connection! At Réalirêves, we look after you and handle your bookings in Dakar and Saly. We are passionate about Senegal and the culture of this region. We encourage authentic interactions with local people and places and we hope to bridge the gap between the visitor and the Senegalese way of life. We create genuine exchanges and adventure for you.

