Culture

Ghanaians mark 2023 PANAFEST to commemorate slave trade

Published

1 year ago

July 28, 2023

Thousands of Ghanaians and Africans in the diaspora have been converging on Ghana’s historic cultural site, Elmina Castle, to mark the 2023 edition of the “Pan African Historical Theater Festival” or PANAFEST, a celebration of history, and relieve cultural traumas that led to the Atlantic slave trade.

Held every two years in the West African country, PANAFEST was inspired back in 1992 by the late great Pan-Africanist writer, Efua Sutherland, and has become a landmark festival in Ghana which gives Africans on the continent and in the diaspora a platform to address slave trade which was seen as the most traumatic interruption that ever occurred in the natural evolution of African societies.

The event, according to the organisers, is organised by the Upper East Regional office of the Ghana Tourism Authority under the auspices of the Ministry of Tourism, Arts and Culture in collaboration with the PANAFEST Secretariat.

It is celebrated from July 23 to August 2 every year and is founded on the belief that the arts, and particularly, theater, can be powerful vehicles for communication and healing, the organisers say.

According to Rabbi Kohain Halevi, the convener of the event, the theme for the 2023 edition is “Reclaiming the African family: confronting the past to face the challenges of the 21st Century”, and is built on the premise that people must create new forms of expression and dialogue to inspire the mobilization necessary to move to higher levels of achievement.

“The idea of pan-Africanism is still an idea that is in the formulation to manifestation and maturity and that idea of pan-Africanism of bringing the African people together as one to be empowered of ourselves. It deserves its own rituals and ceremonies that are symbolic of bringing the African spirit together,” Halevi said in a statement.

“People still ask me how is Ghana doing because this is the hub of all these African slave trade. Even though it is abolished but it is still in the memory of people so they want to see actually where it did happen and this is the place so it’s time for them to come.”

According to the convener, the festival is interspersed with cultural dance performances by the Sandema War Dancers and the Sakoti Dancers.

“The event includes Emancipation Day festivities, academic lectures, musical and dance events, and commemoration visits to sites that shaped slavery in the 15th century.”

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Culture

Ghana’s Afua Asantewaa begins second GWR sing-a-thon attempt

Published

2 hours ago

December 22, 2024

Isaac Dachen

Ghanaian singer, Afua Asantewaa, on Saturday, began her second attempt at breaking the Guinness World Record (GWR) for the longest singing marathon by an individual.

The sing-a-thon which began in the early hours of Saturday, December 21, at Heroes’ Park, Baba Yara Stadium in Kumasi, will run until December 25, and will see the determined songstress perform non-stop, focusing exclusively on Ghanaian songs.

According to Asantewaa’s manager, Madam Gladys Osei Owiredu, the audacious initiative is aimed at showcasing the rich cultural heritage of Ghanaian music to a global audience.

Owiredu confirmed that preparations for the event had been extensive but expressed confidence in Asantewaa’s readiness to finally break the record.

“I can confirm that she is ready for the task ahead. It’s been challenging—by way of preparations—but I can say she is ready,” Owiredu said.

Asantewaa’s second attempt follows her first effort in December 2023, which fell short of surpassing the current record of 105 hours held by India’s Sunil Waghmare.

But despite the setback, her team remains optimistic about breaking the record this time with corporate sponsors including International Maritime Hospital, Ghana Gas, Nasco Electronics, and Zoomlion Ghana Limited rallying behind her, underscoring the importance of the attempt in amplifying the global significance of Ghanaian music.

Culture

Ghana’s Supreme Court dismisses suit challenging anti-LGBT bill

Published

3 days ago

December 19, 2024

Isaac Dachen

Ghana’s Supreme Court has dismissed two separate suits challenging the legality of one of the proposed anti-LGBT legislations awaiting assent into law by the president.

The separate suits were filed by two legal practitioners, Amanda Odoi and Richard Sky, challenging the bill, seeking to declare it illegal and prevent the president from signing it.

The two cases had challenged the constitutionality of the Human Sexual Rights and Family Values Bill.

But in a ruling on Wednesday, the Supreme Court unanimously decided to dismiss the legal challenges to the new anti-LGBT legislation that has been criticised by rights groups.

The controversial bill was passed earlier this year by Ghanaian lawmakers with three years imprisonment for people identifying as LGBT and five years for forming or funding LGBT groups.

While dismissing the cases, presiding judge, Justice Avril Lovelace-Johnson, who delivered the ruling on behalf of the seven-member panel, said the cases were premature.

“Until there’s presidential assent, there is no act, the two cases were “unanimously dismissed,” she said.

The ruling is the latest blow to the LGBTQ community in Ghana and paves the way for the president to sign into law what many say is one of Africa’s most restrictive piece of anti-LGBTQ legislation.

President Nana Akufo-Addo, whose term in office ends on 7 January, had delayed signing it pending the outcome of the Supreme Court challenge but the judges said the case could not be reviewed until it had been signed it into law.

It expected that incoming president, John Mahama, will sign the bill into law as he had always expressed his support for the bill during his electioneering campaigns.