CULTURE AS AN INSTRUMENT OF NIGERIA’S AFROCENTRIC FOREIGN POLICY: THE FESTAC 77 EXAMPLE

Emmanuel Ojukwu, Chuka Enuka

Abstract


Adopting the FESTA77 as its case study, this paper looks at culture as an instrument of Nigeria’s foreign policy. It discusses the country’s hosting of the Festival of Arts and Culture (FESTAC77), as a foreign policy instrument for the promotion and preservation of African culture within the parameters of Nigeria’s Afrocentric foreign policy principles, and her general efforts to shield Africa from the imperialistic intimidations of the West. Using secondary method of data collection, the paper argues that though the place of culture in international relations and foreign policy calculations is not in doubt, but its application in Nigeria’s FESTAC77 case is fraught with problems. Inter alia, the paper finds that the hosting of FESTAC77 and its attendant huge financial spending was done without any target to benefit Nigeria and its citizens economically. The paper concludes that such unprofitable Afrocentric foreign policy pursuit does not worth Nigeria’s financial commitment.

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