Sen. Constance Johnson to attend World Festival

CapitolBeatOK Staff Report

Published: 29-Nov-2010

State Sen. Constance Johnson, an Oklahoma City Democrat, will attend the opening week of the World Festival for Black Arts and Cultures in Dakar, Republic of Senegal, on Dec. 10-17.

Johnson was invited to Senegal by President Abdoulaye Wade. She joins a legislative delegation of 10 members from the National Black Caucus of State Legislators, where she serves as a board member and secretary.

In a statement sent to CapitolBeatOK, Sen. Johnson said she was “honored and humbled” to join “this spectacular, one of a kind, international event.  Just as we saw during our City’s recent hosting of the International Creativity Forum at the Cox Center, events like this are so important to building relationships between nations and people around such common themes as art and culture.  The opportunity to now have a similar experience within the African/Black Diaspora is a once in a lifetime opportunity whose timing is impeccable.”

The World Festival has been held twice before, in 1966 and 1977. This third edition culminates a significant year in modern African history, including the first FIFA World Cup (soccer) on the continent and the 50th Anniversary of Francophone Africa’s independence. President Wade anticipates the largest global gathering to date of black artists, writers, journalists, film makers, intellectuals, scientists, civil rights leaders, elected officials and youth leaders, including a delegation of prominent African-American personalities.

The U.S. Legislative delegation will participate in a symposium on “Africa’s Place in Current Global Affairs” during a Forum on African Renaissance.