Music and African Diplomacy at the Festival Mondial des Arts Nègres, Dakar, 1966

Abstract To celebrate independence from France and promote better understanding between “continents, races, cultures,” in 1966 Senegal produced the World Festival of Negro Arts. Forty-five nations participated. At its core were diplomatic goals involving music. Not only could music help Africans recover their pre-colonial heritage, it encouraged dialogue among cultures cultural development fueling liberation colonial past. Listening for what was shared, as jazz, cooperating internationally, Gorée spectacle recordings competition, mutual understanding, basis alliances world-wide, essential prosperity. By including African Catholic music, anglophone well francophone contributions, radio broadcasts across Africa, festival promoted inter-African alliances, necessary lasting peace Africa. Here, amid cold war this diverse soundscape musical activities Dakar, an mode diplomacy found voice power. Dialogue, exchange, cooperation would inspire a new future.