Senegalese director Paulin Soumanou Vieyra also produced the documentary Le Sénégal au festival national des arts nègres (1966).
Dakar built new roads, an airport terminal, and two new venues – the Theatre National Daniel Sorano and the Musée Dynamique - for incoming participants and visitors.
The opening presentation was given by President Senghor's speech "The Defense and Illustration of Negritude" while other participants provided material for discussion such as Langston Hughes' "Black Writers in a Troubled World".
Key US participants include Ralph Bunche, Alvin Ailey, Marian Anderson, Fred O'Neal, Leontyne Price, Sidney Poitier, Hale Woodruff, Ossie Davis, Duke Ellington, Langston Hughes, Margaret Danner, Rosa Guy, Marian Anderson, Katherine Dunham, Arthur Mitchell, and William Warfield.
[15] Among artists who took part were Stevie Wonder, Ted Joans, the Sun Ra Arkestra, and Donald Byrd from the US, Tabu Ley and Franco from the Congo, Gilberto Gil from Brazil, Bembeya Jazz National from Guinea, and Louis Moholo, Dudu Pukwana, and Miriam Makeba from South Africa.
President Wade said in his 2009 address at the UN: "I call all Africans, all the sons and daughters of the Diaspora, all my fellow citizens, all the partners that are ready to walk by our side, all States, all international organizations, foundations, firms, etc.
"[17] The 2010 festival was curated by Kwame Kwei-Armah, and participants at the opening ceremony included Youssou N'Dour, Baaba Maal, Angélique Kidjo, Toumani Diabaté, Wyclef Jean, Euzhan Palcy, Carlinhos Brown and the Mahotella Queens.
This rendition of the festival opened on Sunday night (21 May 2023) by former Black Panther member Charlotte Hill O'Neal with a benediction ceremony and the hoisting of African flags.
The official opening (on Monday, 22 May 2023) featured Africa's leading speaker, Professor P. L. O. Lumumba, who encouraged and commended the work done by the festival under its chairperson Abioye Yinka and CEO Grace Mumo.
The week's activities were followed by performances from the legendary East African band, Les Wanyika, Lord Eyez, Jamapara, and many more, with a three-day conference addressing climate change, women in business, cultural diplomacy, etc.