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In 1966, musicians, writers, sculptors, painters, performers, poets and other Art enthusiasts gathered in Dakar, Senegal for the first World Festival of Negro Arts (Premier Festival Mondial des arts nègres) . The festival drew attendees from the African diaspora around the world. They came from nearly 45 countries, including several Heads of State from newly-independent African countries. Artists from the Americas included Langston Hughes, Louis Armstrong, Duke Ellington, The Alvin Alley Dance Group and a steel band from Trinidad and Tobago.

Since the commemoration of the 50th anniversary of this landmark event last year, contemporary Senegalese artist Bouna Ndiaye, host and producer of Bonjour Africa — a weekly African music program which airs on 13 public radio stations in the US and Puerto Rico — has embarked on a “collective memory” documentary film project to re-discover the spirit and history of the festival. This quest has led him to rare and intriguing archival footage and documents from various sources including Russia and his native Senegal. Ndiaye will be at The Palace International restaurant (1104 Broad Street) in Durham from 5:00-8:00 P.M., Sunday, April 23 to discuss his findings and show select archival footage from his upcoming documentary.

Refreshments will be served.  Please RSVP in the form below to let us know you are coming!