African writers have lauded Senegalese President Abdoulaye Wade for "the inspiring level of support" that he has been giving to the promotion of African culture as well as his dedication to the development of the African literary world.
The Secretary-General of the Pan African Writers' Association (PAWA), Prof. Atukwei Okai, said this when he presented a PAWA Bronze Portrait Plaque of Honour to President Wade in Dakar.
A statement issued in Accra on Wednesday by PAWA said this took place during the opening ceremony of the third meeting of the International Orientation Committee of the third edition of the World Festival of Black Arts (Fesman III) scheduled for Dakar, from 1-14 December this year.
Prof. Atukwei Okai cited President Wade's commitment as a Pan-Africanist and his drive for the political and economic integration of the African continent, as well as his relentless efforts aimed at achieving the inclusion of the African Diaspora as the sixth region of the African Union.
The meeting, which brought together over 100 writers, historians, anthropologists and fashion designers as well as journalists, artists, professors and linguists, also had the participation of the Ministers of Culture of Algeria, Brazil, Mali, Rwanda, Morocco, Togo, Mauritania, Nigeria, and Senegal.
After the formal opening by President Wade, Professor Iba Dar Thiam, a historian, Deputy President of the Senegalese Parliament and Chairman of the Scientific Committee, presented a paper on "Resistance in Africa and the contribution of black men to science and world heritage".
As part of the activities lined up for the World Black Arts Festival, there will be an international competition covering the Theatre, Literature, Dance, Fashion and design, Cinema and video, and Music (modern and traditional).
In each field, the first prize carries an amount of 15,244 euros, the second prize 11,430 euros, and the third prize 4,750 euros.
Countries will be able to participate in the fields of architecture (exhibitions); handicrafts, visual arts (painting, sculpture, and photography); cinema and video. The others are fashion (textile, leather goods, cosmetics, jewellery, models shows, exhibitions designers); colloquium, symposium and dance (traditional and modern). The rest are literature (poetry, novel, short story"); music (modern and traditional) and theatre (opera).
The writers who supported their Secretary-General in the presentation of the honour to the Senegalese President included the Beninoise poet Prof. Noureini Tidjani-Serpos, who is also the Deputy Director General of UNESCO for Africa, the Gabonese novelist Prof. Justin Mintsa, Honorary President of the Gabonese Writers' Association and the Guinean poetess and playwright, Koumanthio Zeinab Diallo.
The others were Prof. Andreas Oliphant, novelist, literary theorist and President of the South African Writers' Association and the Nigerian actor, poet, playwright and Vice-President of PAWA for West Africa, Prof. Femi Osofisan.
The rest were Mr. Alioune Badara Beye, playwright, President of the Senegal Writers' Association and General Coordinator of FESMAN III, as well as the poet, Mr. Mamadou Traore Diop, General Secretary of the Senegal Writers' Association and Deputy Secretary General of PAWA.