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Third Ever World Festival Of Black Arts And Cultures In Dakar This Month (VIDEOS)

First Posted: 12/08/10 05:23 PM ET   Updated: 05/25/11 07:15 PM ET

1966 marked the first ever World Festival of Black Arts and Cultures held in Dakar, Senegal; this celebratory event brought together people of different nationalities and generations with a common goal: to shed light on the struggle and persistence of black people in the face of colonization. In 1977, the second festival was held in Nigeria. And now, on December 10th, 2010- three decades later- the third World Festival of Black Arts and Cultures returns to Dakar, and lets just say, it seems the third time's a charm.

This year's lineup includes concerts, dance performances, documentary and feature film screenings, theatre, lectures on various art forms (from architecture and design to reggae) to name a few, that will run through New Year's night, with free admission to it all. As we learned on the Black World Festival website, the event this year focuses on Africa in it's new context: Africa as free, proud, creative, and optimistic. Brazil will be the guest of honor, bringing along with it a slew of artists that are culturally diverse and emblematic of the dialogue between different people and cultures, created by this year's event. Check out our slide show of videos below for a look at our favorite artists featured at this year's event.

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We wish we could see Brazilian Carlinhos Brown perform his amazing percussive music! Watch how the music builds! Brown performs in the opening ceremony on the 10th.
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1966 marked the first ever World Festival of Black Arts and Cultures held in Dakar, Senegal; this celebratory event brought together people of different nationalities and generations with a common goa...
1966 marked the first ever World Festival of Black Arts and Cultures held in Dakar, Senegal; this celebratory event brought together people of different nationalities and generations with a common goa...
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09:48 AM on 12/10/2010
I hear that Mao Otayeck, former band leader of Alpha Blondy, will also be performing there! :
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Rastageneral
Babylon can't fool I - Rastafari rule I
11:44 PM on 12/10/2010
Big fan of Alpha Blondy... wish I could go there with my band - we play African music.
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HUFFPOST SUPER USER
Natti
if knowledge is the key, then show me the lock...
09:44 AM on 12/10/2010
Didn't think the festival was ever going to happen. Delays upon delays. Wish I were there. My boss is there, so I'll have to wait for him to come back with all the details.
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ZenSufi
There is a secret in the Heart of Man.
09:43 AM on 12/10/2010
Ofeibea Quist-Arcton, NPR News, Dakaaaaar!
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MarcEdward
likes all cats more than most people
09:05 AM on 12/10/2010
That looks really cool.