Described as "the biggest celebration of black identity in the world," this festival was initiated by one of the brains behind the intellectual movement known as negritude (blackness), an intellectual movement that took hold especially in French-speaking Africa and its diaspora. That brain was the renowned academic and first president of Senegal, Leopold Sedar Senghor. However, some are beginning to wonder whether such a festival is currently of any use to Africa and its diaspora. Why spend so much money to celebrate blackness when the money could be put to more better use that may improve the material well-being of the people? Why not spend the money to improve transport infrastructure, education, or health care?
Here is the position of yours truly on the matter: It is well and good to celebrate culture and identity and I do not want to be seen as someone who is against the arts - a dominant part of the celebration. However, such celebration will not be needed if there are significant things that can speak about our culture for themselves. We do not need to call attention to ourselves by dancing - as Senghor thought we should - but rather by raising monuments to our civilization. And by raising monuments to our civilization I do not mean building statues and other things like the Pyramids (monuments to the dead!) and the Sphinx of Egypt. I mean improving transportation infrastructures, medical care, education, and the general standards of living. I mean treating our people with dignity and respect and letting them know that they are not only fit to be the refugees and desperate peoples of the world. These things would celebrate our cultures and values more than all the dancing could do. This is a new time that should not be dedicate to the celebration of blackness but to the celebration of our humanity and the humanity of all people.
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