The National Museum of Arts, Rites and Traditions of Gabon and the French Institute in Gabon in Libreville are hosting, from February 1 to 28, 2023, the Black History Arts Festival to mark Black History Month, which is celebrated every year in February. For this third edition, African cultures and arts are honored in a perspective of memory, for the preservation of heritage.
By the editorial staff
The spirit of black history arts is invited for the second time in Libreville through the Black History Arts Festival, as the commemorations of the history of black culture and arts in the United States since 1976 are celebrated throughout the month of February. The festival will be held from February 1 to 28, 2023, at the National Museum of Arts, Rites and Traditions of Gabon, as well as at the French Institute in Gabon, in Libreville.
« Artistic education and creation »
Organized by the Slam Master Association, it aims to celebrate black culture throughout the month of February. Under the theme « Negro with attitude », this 2nd edition is sponsored by Justine Mintsa. « This festival is about artistic education and creation, » she said. « In addition to training and conferences on art and culture, there will also be artistic days. Themed days with specific arts like cinema, » said Malvyna Leslie Nianze, the festival’s coordinator.
The Black History Arts Festival is the result of a collaboration between the Slam Master Association and artists, which aims to celebrate black art and culture with Gabonese, African and Afro-descendant youth. The event invites participants to reclaim their cultural and artistic heritage through historical narrative and to transform it through art in the contemporary world.
« Reclaiming our black culture »
« We are in a society where we no longer have an identity. Especially in relation to our history, which is linked to slavery and colonization. We believe that our cultural identity has been affected by this past. So, the mission of the festival is to reclaim our black culture, » says Malvinat Leslie Nianzé.
« I think that our culture, the ‘black’ culture, has a lot to give and it is important that it is visible and that it can impose values and ways that are completely universal, because no culture is superior to another, » argues Justine Mintsa. She is delighted that this festival is paying special attention to training. « We can’t do anything without training, » she says, and sees in this event « a world where young people are immersed in culture, training and education.”
The program for this year’s festival includes an art exhibition of drawings, paintings and photographs by artists such as Orassio Photography, Scott Le Griyo and Mexhilus Ymc; conferences; a Gabonese vernacular elocution competition; and a Black History Arts evening.
