Dakar 1966: The First World Festival of Negro Arts and Its Contemporary Art Exhibition

From April 1 to 24, 1966, Dakar was the venue for the Premier Festival mondial des arts nègres, an event organized by the Senegalese government and the African Society of Culture, with UNESCO's support. President Léopold Sédar Senghor sought to illustrate the practical implications of Négritude. The festival included various forms of art such as dance, theatre, cinema, and visual arts, leading to the construction of new facilities and a museum in Dakar. The contemporary art exhibit 'Tendances et confrontations' featured over 200 artists from 25 countries, though it suffered from inadequate documentation. A catalogue was created but remained largely undistributed, and few images were shared. National delegations organized the exhibition, resulting in varied quality and styles. Noteworthy participants included grand prize winners Christian Lattier and Frank Bowling, along with artists like Ben Enwonwu, Demas Nwoko, Uche Okeke, Bruce Onobrakpeya, Skunder Boghossian, Gebre Kristos, Uzo Egonu, and Ronald Moody. Tensions arose within the US delegation as Romare Bearden and others withdrew in protest of unpaid visual artists. While the exhibition initiated the 'École de Dakar,' it also highlighted underlying conflicts regarding Négritude and artistic expression.