American Society of African Culture

4/6 Oil Mill Street, Lagos, Nigeria P.M.B. 2814

West African Center

Cable Address :
AMSAC, LAGOS.

December 5, 1961.

The American Society of African Culture takes great pleasure
in inviting your attendance at its Opening Program and Performing
Arts Festival. The activities of the Conference and Festival will
mark the opening of AMSAC's West African Center in Lagos. As
envisaged on the educational side, there will be morning panel
discussions and demonstrations which will provide an opportunity
for West African and American Negro contributors to join together
in an examination of the indigenous cultural resources of Africa
and its progeny. The discussions will include panels on "Black
African Culture in Africa and the Americas" and "What, If Any, Are
The Relationships Between Contemporary Arts Of The American Negro
and the African?" Participants will include Langston Hughes, world
famous poet and novelist; Dr. Horace Mann Bond, President of AMSAC
and dean of education at Atlanta University; Dr. Willis James,
specialist in jazz and professor of music at Spelman College;
Cedric Dover, art critic and anthropologist; Hale Woodruff, professor
of art at New York University; Dr. Rosey E. Pool, poetess, who is
presently compiling an anthology of Afro-American poetry; John Akar,
writer and director of broadcasting for Sierra Leone; M. M'Baye
M'Bengue, directeur de l'Ecole de la Biscuiterie, Senegal; Kofi
Antubam, of Achimota College, Ghana; Dr. S. O. Biobaku, noted
historian; Cyprian Ekwensi, noted author and director of Information
for the Nigerian Government; Yemi Lijadu, director of drama, Nigerian
Broadcasting Corporation; Wole Soyinka, playwright; Chinua Achebe,
prize-winning novelist; Ben Enwonwu, world-renowned sculptor; Segun
Olusola, director of drama, WNTV, Ibadan; and Afi Ekong, outstanding
woman artist. The Conference sessions will be held in Chief J. K.
Randle Memorial Hall, Onikan, and will commence at 9.30 a.m. on
December 18 and 19.

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The evenings of both days will be devoted to a two-part
festival in which both American Negro and West African performing
artists will participate. List of the participants include:

NARRATORS
---

Langston Hughes, author and poet, New York

John Akar, director of broadcasting, Sierra Leone Government

AMERICAN NEGRO PERFORMERS
---

Odetta - folk singer

Al Mims and Leon James - tap dancers

Brock Peters - folk singer

Nina Simone - singer and pianist

Michael Olatunji - drummer, Nigerian resident in the U.S.

Natalie Hinderas - pianist

Martha Flowers - classical and semi-classical singer

Geoffrey Holder - modern dancer

Lionel Hampton Quintet - jazz instrumentalists

Randy Weston - jazz pianist

WEST AFRICAN PERFORMERS
---

Olu Sowande - folk singer

Francesca Pereira - folk and jazz singer

Atilogu Dancers - traditional dancers

Alum Dancers

Femi Bucknor - pianist

Tiv Women Dancers

Senegal Ballet (tentative)

Zuzu Dancers of Sierra Leone (tentative)

This is the first of the AMSAC's program and activities in West Africa - a program that envisages cooperation with cultural groups throughout the area. We are hopeful of developing meaningful programs that will give encouragement and assistance to West African theater groups, artists, writers, scholars and educators. We think the program on December 18 and 19 will be of tremendous interest to you and we look forward to seeing you at that time. I am enclosing a form for you to complete and return. This will give us an indication on the number of people to expect at the Conference and the Performing Arts Festival.

With warm fraternal greetings, I am,

Most sincerely,

Calvin H. Raullerson
Director

AMERICAN SOCIETY OF AFRICAN CULTURE

4/6 Oil Mill Street Lagos
P.M.B. 2814

West African Center

Cable Address:
AMSAC, LAGOS.

AMSAC FESTIVAL SCHEDULE

DECEMBER 14

10:10 p.m. -- AMSAC contingent (27) arrive Ikeja Airport
(coverage) Press interviews
Television
Radio

Airport Reception by Atilogu Dancers, TIV Dancers,
Alum Dancers

Motorcade to Federal Palace Hotel

December 15

Sightseeing about Lagos area
Press Interviews Federal Palace Hotel

7:30 p.m. Reception at home of Solicitor General, Mr. Godfrey Amachree, 3 Lugard Avenue, Ikoyi

December 16

2:15 p.m. Arrival Dr. John A. Davis (AMSAC EXECUTIVE DIRECTOR) and Mrs. Davis, via Pan American at Ikeja Airport

4:00 p.m. Opening of Art Exhibition, Chief J.K. Randle Hall
King George V Road

Evening at Kool Cats Inn, Caban Bamboo, Papingo

December 17

8:30 p.m. Opening Dinner, Independence Hall, Federal Palace Hotel
Address by the Right Honorable Nnamdi Azikiwe, Governor-
General of the Federation of Nigeria

December 18

9:00 a.m. Opening of West African Center, 4/6 Oil Mill Street

9:30 a.m. Conference Sessions, Chief J.K. Randle Hall

8:30 p.m. Firest Festival Performance, King George V Rtadium

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December 19

9:00 a.m. Conference Sessions, Chief J.K. Randle Hall

8:30 p.m. Second Festival Performance, King George V Stadium

December 20

6:30 p.m. - Reception, Residence of Dr. John Noon, USIS, 6 Ilu Drive Ikoyi

9:30 p.m. Supper & Party, Guests of Minister of Information at Bobby Benson's Caban Bamboo, Ikorodu Road

December 21

11:10 p.m. AMSAC Contingent departs Ikeja Airport via ALITALIA for Rome

Notes:

Lionel Hampton, Mrs. Hampton and a group of eight musicians will arrive Ikeja Airport at 10:10 p.m. Monday, December 18.

Information on other non-scheduled items can be secured from:

Calvin H. Raullerson, AMSAC CENTER or Federal Palace Hotel

Barbara H. Wilson, AMSAC CENTER 22476

David Chadwick, Cecil Turner, Ltd., 40 Balogun Street, 25163

Mrs. Yvonne Walker, AMSAC staff, Federal Palace Hotel 26691

AMERICAN SOCIETY OF AFRICAN CULTURE
OPENING PROGRAM AND PERFORMING ARTS FESTIVAL

SATURDAY, DECEMBER 16

Randle Hall 4.00 p.m. Opening of Exhibition of American Negro and West African paintings and sculpture.

SUNDAY, DECEMBER 17

Federal Palace Hotel 8.30 p.m. Reception and Opening Dinner.

MONDAY, DECEMBER 18

4/6 Oil Mill Street 9.00 a.m. Official Opening Ceremony - AMSAC West African Center.

Randle Hall 9.30 a.m. Panel Discussion - "Black African Culture in Africa and the Americas."

King George V Stadium 8.30 p.m. Performing Arts Festival, Part I, FOLK MUSIC, DRAMA AND DANCE.

TUESDAY, DECEMBER 19

Randle Hall 9.30 a.m. Panel Discussion - "What, if any, are the Relationships Between Contemporary Arts of the American Negro and the African?"

A. Plastic and Spacial Arts

B. Folk and Art Music

C. Drama and Literature

D. Dance

King George V Stadium 8.30 p.m. Performing Arts Festival, Part II, ART, MUSIC, DRAMA AND DANCE.

4/6 Oil Mill Street Lagos, Nigeria P.M.B. 2814

Art Music and Dance - December 19, 1961

West African Center

Cable Address :

AMSAC, LAGOS.

8.30 - Drumming Prelude (Michael Olatunji followed by American Negro Drummers, then the two merge)

8.33 - Opening remarks by Director of AMSAC Cultural Center followed by presentation of African narrator and American narrator.

8.35 - John Akar presents
Femi Bucknor
African classical and/or semi-classical instrumental music.

8.50 - Langston Hughes presents

8.51 - Natalie Hinderas

9.11 - John Akar presents

9.12 - Christopher Oyeshiku
African classical or semi-classical singing and music

9.22 - Langston Hughes presents

9.23 - Martha Flowers (She will start with classical and end with semi-classical)

9.33 - John Akar presents

9.34 - TIV WOMEN DANCERS - NORTHERN NIGERIA
African semi-classical dancing and music

9.49 - Langston Hughes presents

9.50 - Geoffrey Holder

10.10 - John Akar presents

10.11 - ALUM WAR DANCERS

10.21 - Langston Hughes presents

10.22 - Lionel Hampton Quintet and Randy Weston at the piano

10.42 - John Akar presents

10.43 - Francesca Pereira accompanied by Bob Fowler trio
African Jazz Singing

10.53 - Langston Hughes presents

10.54 - Nina Simone

11.04 - Director of AMSAC Cultural Center presents

11.05 - Nina Simone and Michael Olatunji (The Blend)

11.34 - Finale: Afro-American Jazz Blend
Lionel Hampton, Nigerian Jazz Artists, Nina Simone, et al.

P.M.B. 2814

West African Center

Cable Address :

AMSAC, LAGOS.

December 5, 1961.

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NARRATORS
---

AMERICAN NEGRO PERFORMERS
---

Odetta - folk singer

Brock Peters - folk singer

Natalie Hinderas - pianist

Randy Weston - jazz pianist

WEST AFRICAN PERFORMERS
---

Olu Sowande - folk singer

Alum Dancers

Femi Bucknor - pianist

Tiv Women Dancers

Senegal Ballet (tentative)

Most sincerely,

Calvin H. Raullerson
Director

Tuesday, December 19, 1961

6.00 p.m. - Meet in Hotel Lobby for Group Photograph.

Wednesday, December 20, 1961

12.00 - Governor-General's Luncheon at the Federal Palace Hotel. Those planning to go to Ibadan must cancel their plans and go on Thursday, as it would be the highest violation of protocol not to attend.

7 - 9 p.m. - Cocktail Party, John Noon at 6 Ilu Drive, Ikoyi.

9 - until - Party given by Minister of Information, Hon. T. O. S. Benson at Caban Bamboo.

THE AMERICAN SOCIETY OF AFRICAN CULTURE
WEST AFRICAN CENTER

with grateful acknowledgement to

The Nigerian Council for the Advancement
of Art and Culture

takes great pleasure in inviting you
to the opening of its exhibition

of
Paintings and Sculpture
by

American Negro and Nigerian Artists

December 16, 1961.

Chief J. K. Randle Memorial Hall
King George V Road

5.00 p.m.

(The Exhibition will continue through December 23rd)