Saturday, July 27, 2013

Today was the big opening celebration of the Panafest 2013 celebration in Ghana.

President of the Republic of Ghana, the Honorable John Dramani Mahama opened the celebration at Victoria Park in Cape Coast. This marked the 10th Panafest celebration and makes this the longest-running pan-African festival on the continent.

The Artists Alliance performed a slave march re-enactment that brought many in attendance to tears. On a more inspirational note, there were performances of dance and music by contemporary artists from Ghana and the Diaspora.

A ceremony was held where all those in attendance from the Diaspora were welcomed home. White clay, representing Mother Africa, was applied to the left forearm by the Panafest Queen Mother during this emotional moment.

Ms. Elizabeth Ofosu-Adware, Minister of Tourism, Culture and Creative Arts also addressed the crowd, advocating the economic advancement of Africa through tourism.

This year also marks the 50th anniversary of the Africa Union, the 50th anniversary of the death of prominent pan-Africanist W.E.B Du Bois. We also remember this as the one year anniversary of the death of our previous president, Prof. John Evans Atta Mills.

It was indeed a day of many remembrances.

See more information about Panafest as well as the festival schedule here:
   www.http://easytrackghana.com/tour-ghana_panafest.php

President Mahama reminded the gathered crowd about Ghana's unique Right of Abode law, enacted to allow those of the Diaspora to receive expedited citizenship to live in Ghana. He urged other African countries to enact similar laws.

If you are not attending this year, plan to attend the next Panafest in 2015.

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