W.E.B. DU BOIS MUSEUM COMPLEX GHANA - Restoration Plan Commences
The W.E.B du Bois Center in Ghana is where the remains of Man, his wife Shirley and vast collection of books and personal items have been since his death on August 27, 1963.
By Oyiza Adaba | Africa-Related New York
And Beatrice Arthur | Ghana
The great African-American Scholar, Civil Rights Activist and father of Pan-Africanism who influenced the likes of Ghana’s first Prime Minister/President Kwame Nkrumah, envisioned Ghana to be his final resting place.
W.E.B du Bois Photo by webdbmf.org
This symbolic and historic gesture gave birth to the W.E.B du Bois Centre in Accra, where the remains of the Man, his beloved wife Shirley and the vast collection of his books and personal items have been, since his death on August 27, 1963. He had spent a good part of 1961-1963 in Ghana curating the contributions of Africans to global development in the five-volume Encyclopedia Africana. Du Bois was interred in a state funeral outside Christiansborg Castle in Osu, formerly a holding pen for the slave cargoes bound for the Americas.
“I had planned an "Encyclopedia Africana" in 1909 but my leaving Atlanta for New York postponed this project and the World War prevented its renewal. In 1934 I was chosen to act as editor-in-chief of a new project of the Phelps-Stokes Fund to prepare and publish an Encyclopedia of the Negro. I spent nearly ten years of intermittent effort on this project and secured cooperation from many scholars, white and black, in America, Europe and Africa. But the necessary funds could not be secured. Perhaps again it was too soon to expect large aid for so ambitious a project directed by Negroes and built mainly on Negro scholarship. Nevertheless, a preliminary volume summarizing this effort was published in 1945. (p.302)
- W. E. B DU Bois 1968 Autobiography
In recent times however, that vision has weathered the storms of indifference and neglect, giving room for a new vision by the management of the W.E.B Du Bois Museum Foundation. Headquartered in New York and under the leadership of Japhet Aryiku, the Foundation stresses that the redesign and expansion project aims to re-establish a cultural destination for academics, the diaspora, and the local Ghanaian community that honors the momentous work of its namesake.
On the 59th anniversary of his death, this milestone unveiling was witnessed by du Bois’ great grandson Jefrey Peck, and made possible through a partnership with Ghana’s Ministry of Tourism Arts & Culture.
The Museum Complex has Sir David Adjaye of Adjaye Associates as the design Architects. The project is expected to be completed in 2024 with public support and donations. See how you can support below.
Get to know the WEBDB Museum Project here
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HIGHLIGHTS: CHALE WOTE & HOMOWO FESTIVALS
See images of the colorful display of Culture and Talent at annual Chale Wote and Homowo Festivals in Accra Ghana
By Africa-Related New York
Photos: Beatrice Arthur
TWO FESTIVALS SIDE BY SIDE
The Chale Wote Street Art Festival also known as Chale Wote is an alternative platform that brings art, music, dance and performance out into the streets. The festival targets exchanges between scores of local and international artists and patrons by creating and appreciating art together. Wikipedia
Homowo is a harvest festival celebrated by the Ga people of Ghana in the Greater Accra Region. The festival starts in the month of August with the planting of crops before the rainy season starts. During the festival, they perform a dance called Kpanlogo. Wikipedia
Photos by @annabetya
Get to know more about the historic location of Jamestown Accra, and plan your next visit.
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2022 GLOBAL CITIZEN FESTIVAL: ACT NOW!
The Lineup for the 2022 Global Citizen Festival has been announced. It will take place in New York and Accra Ghana on September 24, 2022
Words: Oyiza Adaba
Africa-Related New York
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ACT NOW!
Listen to the Message in the Music…World Leaders Told
Advocacy is at the core of the 2022 Global Citizens Festival. Bearing that message to world leaders, corporations and citizens, is an impressive lineup of performers across different musical genres. The message is this:
Amply voices of Girls
Tackle Global Food Crisis
Address Financial Imbalance of Climate Change
Provide Debt Relief
It is a call that would be heard from the historic Black Star Square in Accra, Ghana to Central Park New York, where performances would run concurrently on September 24, 2022.
The U.S lineup include Metallica, Mariah Carey, Jonas Brothers, while Usher, SZA, Stormzy, Gyakie, H.E.R., Sarkodie, Stonebwoy, and TEMS will perform in Ghana, to celebrate the country’s 65th independence anniversary and the 20th anniversary of the African Union.
Learn more about the upcoming festival and how you can get involved.
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Nubuke Foundation 10th Anniversary - A Conversation with El Anatsui
Ghanaian cultural oasis, The Nubuke Foundation recently celebrated its 10th year anniversary with an exhibition by various local and international artists, and a conversation with world renowned artist El Anatsui that was moderated by art critic and curator N'Goné Fall.
By Oyiza Adaba. Accra, Ghana
N'Goné Fall , independent curator and art critic moderates conversation with globally acclaimed sculptor El Anatsui on his life journey from 1974-2016.
Ghanaian cultural oasis, The Nubuke Foundation recently celebrated its 10th year anniversary with an exhibition by various local and international artists, and a conversation with world renowned artist El Anatsui that was moderated by art critic and curator N'Goné Fall.
The conversation dwelt on the artist’s early works from 1974-2016. The rich audience consisted of respected names from the Ghanaian art scene, who got a rare chance to interact with Anatsui with a Q&A session. The children also unveiled an art piece made in honour of the highly revered artist. Congratulations to the NUBUKE Foundation.
PHOTOS BY AFRICA-RELATED
