Produced by the Centre for Black and African Arts and Civilization (CBAAC) in collaboration with the Nigeria Pavilion, Shared Frequencies is a sonic manifesto that reimagines archival recordings from FESTAC ’77 Nigeria’s seminal Pan-African cultural festival through contemporary digital editing, spatial audio design, and layered recomposition.

This work treats the archive not as a fixed historical record but as a living, malleable source open to reinterpretation, manipulation, and collective authorship.

CBAAC is the custodian of the core materials, artifacts, and rare cultural items presented during FESTAC ’77. These were entrusted to Nigeria as part of a commitment to preserve and promote the shared cultural legacy of the 59 Black and African countries and communities that participated in the festival.

Production Note

To bring this sonic work to life, the Nigeria Pavilion collaborated with sound artist Ireoluwa Rayok Koleowo.

The audio is anchored by two archival speeches delivered by former Nigerian President Olusegun Obasanjo. The first was given at the opening of FESTAC ’77 in Lagos, and the second in Kano, Nigeria Through these sampled moments, Shared Frequencies offers an invitation to reflect, engage and depart with renewed inspiration.