I have some exciting news to share – my first event is finally happening! It’s been months of planning, dreaming, and collaborating with my lovely community. I am thrilled to invite you to join me for a day that’s all about connection, inspiration, and celebrating the journey we are on together. Whether you have been with me from the beginning or you are just discovering my brand, we are ready to make memories and take this next step together.
Make sure you are ready and here in Accra on March 22nd. It’s going to be fabulous. Get your tickets now here.
Ok. Let’s get into the details.
I am co-organizing the Burgundy experience with Adrenaline 360. You already know how much I love culture, art, fashion, music, and time travel. So it only makes sense to create an experience that showcases these things.
Step into an unforgettable evening of luxury, style, and culture at Burgundy, an exclusive event that blends sophistication with the vibrant energy of Afro-Latin influences. Designed for a discerning audience who appreciates the finest in life, this celebration is set against an island-inspired, tropical backdrop.
The evening will begin with decadent canapes, curated by a renowned guest chef, offering a fusion of exquisite Afro-Latin and island-inspired flavors. Pair your meal with handcrafted cocktails and savor the essence of a tropical escape, as you enjoy fragrance sampling that transports you through the sensory world of exotic aromas.
As the evening progresses, immerse yourself in the world of high fashion and glamour with an exclusive Afrofuturism live mannequin fashion installation, followed by live performances that bring Afro-Latin rhythms to life. From captivating DJ sets to mesmerizing dance acts, the performances promise to set the stage for a night of excitement.
Art and fashion lovers will enjoy a curated auction featuring stunning artwork and one-of-a-kind fashion pieces. As the night unfolds, the atmosphere evolves into a high-energy after-party with tropical beats, allowing guests to dance the night away in true afofuturistic island style.
Burgundy is not just an event—it’s an experience. From the finest food and drink to the electrifying performances, every detail is crafted to indulge your senses and create memories of a truly elegant and vibrant affair.
Preparing for this event has been a fun adventure. A lot of collaboration and learning. Of course, I will be sharing with you exclusive behind-the-scenes in my newsletter as we countdown to the event. Make sure you subscribe to my newsletter for more details.
This has also continued to be a beautiful experience for me. As the ideas and planning have transformed from notes on a phone to a reality in progress, it has encouraged me to explore more possibilities for myself and Bandele Muse. I find it interesting how brands and businesses continue to grow and evolve in ways you might not have expected when you started. But the mystery makes more sense when you keep going and keep trusting.
Ok. That’s all the details for now.
Burgundy is an experience. This is the debut event. We have more to host and create next for you to enjoy with Burgundy.
What do you think of the concept? Share with me.
There are also opportunities to sponsor. Please contact me if you want to contribute or get involved.
And, do you know someone who you think would love this? Go ahead and share this post with them.
The African Games in Ghana was a big program that provided a spectrum of victories and hiccups. As it was the first time an event like this was hosted in Ghana, I was curious to witness it. I attended the opening ceremony and some of the tennis and net ball games. Let’s recap, shall we?
The 13th edition of the African Games was hosted in Ghana in March 2024. The program was 15 days of sports contests and ceremonies. Reportedly, Ghana hosted 5,000 athletes and coaches from 55 African countries, competing in 29 selected sports codes, plus 3,000 technical officers, journalists, and global celebrities. The African Games were used as an official qualifier for the XXXIII Olympic Games Paris 2024.
I had the pleasure of attending the opening ceremony for the African Games. It was really beautiful to witness all the African countries being represented. The show was also a very nice production. I’m grateful I had the opportunity to experience this.
A theme (or statement) that was repeated by the MC and within multiple speeches was “this is Africa’s time.” Emphasizing that sports and music will continue to unify Africa through these games.
This is lovely, if we are seriously committed. Seeing the NFL and NBA position themselves in Africa makes sense. But I hope we don’t stop there. I trust we don’t settle for entertainment. A unified Africa will also benefit from removal of visa and travel restrictions, exploitation policies, crabs in a bucket, economic hitmen, money laundering investments, genocide allies, and colonizer puppet strings. The money sports and music brings can move some of this. It would be nice to see more of that on the ground, instead of more talk in the air. I’m looking forward to when that does happen.
Apparently, supposedly, and allegedly, the African Games was moved from October 2023 to March 2024 for two reasons:
The sports facility was not ready yet. (A British company got the contract to build it. So, do we blame Ghana Time or something else?)
The marketing revenue or budget was not established yet. (Maybe we can blame Ghana Time for that one)
Now, the games took place in March 2024.
The sports facility was very nice. I hope and trust it is maintained and utilized well after the program.
The marketing for the program was slacking. The information for who was playing and timing was missing or posted on social media after the fact. In spite of this, I was glad to see folks taking the initiative to explore and bring the whole family to a new activity. This was a great a program for people of all ages to enjoy. Ticket were not scanned or checked when I went. Technically, I guess the games were free. I don’t know where my 150ghc went. But I release it as a good effort donation to Ghana’s economy. You’re welcome.
The timing to reschedule this program also made me wonder. Since it includes all African countries, that means some of the athletes would be fasting in March. I felt it was not fair to be fasting and performing in the heat like that. Of course, the athletes are professionals. Those who are supposed to go to the Olympics will get there regardless. But, I feel we could have been more considerate of everyone.
🚨ICYMI🇬🇭🎶: @IamKingPromise performed songs like ‘Perfect Combi,’ ‘Paris,’ & ‘Terminator’ at the Opening Ceremony of the 13th African Games in Accra, Ghana. – 📹: @mygtvsports
I commend Ghana for pushing through to host the African Games. It was the first time and not an easy task. Now we know how to do it better next time. I feel a lot of what was reported or shared through mainstream media and WhatsApp groups was heavy on negativity. Yes, that one shoe size was incorrect. Yes, that one ambulance did not have fuel. Yes, some of the signs were printed on regular paper. Yes, ECG thought it was the perfect time to turn off the power at a stadium during a game. Ok. But, I feel none of that weighs as much or overshadows all the good that did occur.
The arrangement to host the African Games was made years in advance. Using projections that possibly were no longer viable at the time of the program. From my understanding, the funding to host the program was not available in one full sum, but dispersed periodically or in smaller amounts. Also, from what I could see, a lot of people were needed to balance this program. Which means, the main organizations in charge needed to use a variety of third parties and vendors. So, could it be possible, that some of the hiccups were not caused by “wow, look at Ghana, who can’t do anything correct,” but, instead, caused by a trickle down disfunction of communication, schedules, or payments. It is not fair to compare your first time doing something to someone else’s 80th time doing something. Even if it is a country, ministry, or corporation.
All of the athletes, teams, reporters, etc. who traveled to Ghana for the African Games were singing Ghana’s praises. They felt safe. They commended the organization. And, of course, they enjoyed Ghana’s infamous hospitality for foreigners. That deserves credit.
During the activities and ceremony I attended, the stands were full. This was not only Ghana’s elite enjoying. A variety of Ghanaians had something to experience and look forward to. Even if it was just a moment away from their daily frustrations, this should count for something.
Maybe this is a mindset thing for me. I’m not saying we should ignore the hiccups or mistakes. But, the comparisons should be inspiration or motivation. For example, the comparison competition looking at how Ivory Coast hosted the African Cup Of Nations a month before should be viewed as inspiration and motivation. There were different nuances, funding, and work ethic at play. Instead, if you need to look at competition, take note if Ghana could have hosted the African Games 10 years ago. Take note if the NFL, NBA, or other mainstream sports organizations would pay attention to Ghana 20 years ago. At the present, we believe we should be further along then we are. I agree with you on that. But, you are not standing in one place. The movement is happening. I just hope and trust we grow more clear on the direction of that movement to be more mutually beneficial.
Overall, I think the African Games in Accra was good. Next time, it will be even better.
Did you attend any of the activities? How was your experience? Let me know in the comments. I always love hearing from you.
A peaceful protest occurred in Accra a few weeks ago. It lasted for 3 days. It went differently then what was expected. Several protests have occurred afterwards by different groups. You may or may not have heard about it. This got me thinking about how we all can show up more for the solution.
The initial peaceful protest was focused on economic hardships in Ghana. Becoming a space for Ghanaians to speak out on their frustrations. It was unfortunately met with disrespect and violence from Ghana’s police following “orders.” The local newspapers did not report on the incident, as if it did not happen.
Please don’t give up. This shows you have a voice. Your concerns are valid. You demonstrated something monumental.
I’m always encouraging you on here to think for yourself. This is a great opportunity to do that. Please know that I do not mean any disrespect or harm. I feel this is a chance to be open to learning and understanding.
To learn more about the demands and progress of the Occupy Julorbi House movement, click here.
I hear some of you. Why protest? What difference did it make? True. This needs to continue to be strategic. The demonstration was a success because you showed up and took up space. Next, to play the next level of this game, you need to understand that pulling heartstrings will not give you the justice you deserve. Complaining that your leaders and elite don’t care is a waste of your energy. Leaders who do not have a solid team and do care about their people are assassinated or silenced. You know this too well.
As funny and sad as the tweets are, it can be tricky to boycott businesses you are not a regular customer for. So, be smarter with your big hearts. I know you already watched House of Cards and read The Spook Who Sat By The Door. In other parts of the world, lobbyists are the next play in this game. How can that be implemented here? Private enterprises hold a lot behind that. Could that sufficiently translate here?
I’ve had people ask me so what next after the protest. And nothing will change after this protest so why waste time. Ghana won’t get better after one protest or even two. But we have to start from somewhere and let our leaders know they’re here to serve us and make things better,…
I’m aware my community on here is diverse. So, I trust we can cover all angles on this collaboration. Reflect on it. No need to post the blueprint here. This should be part of the reason why so many different people are in and continue to move to Ghana. We all need to be including provisions to this solution in what we are cultivating here.
Not to dismiss anyone’s initiative, but what is the point of all this healing and investing if we are not closing the gap on these discrepancies? What good is all of your real estate potential, tourism attractions, economic summits, trade expos, academic seminars, viral dance videos, and Detty December Citizens if the location is this hostile to the basic well being of its people? What is the point of the wide spectrum of passport privilege, currency privilege, tribal privilege, and family name privilege that exists here, if we are not leveraging it for collective winning?
Ghanaians don’t want hand outs, we simply want an enabling environment to do business, earn an honest living and thrive. Ghanaians want to live and die in dignity. we’re not asking for much #OccupyJulorbiHouse
you should know that many of our diasporan brothers and sisters love that the exchange rate gives them a sense of more wealth in ghana. to feel like they belong to an elite class once home creates a feeling of superiority.
I know these are only words. I know I can’t call the Avengers to help. I did mention this to Wakanda, but they are busy swimming at the moment.
Within a year of moving to Ghana, my beacon of hope for all forms of freedom, Pan-Africanism, Black liberation, World equality, and collective healing evolution faded. Seeing what you did at this initial protest reignited that beacon of hope for me. The way you all committed to your mission for peace and took care of each other. In spite of being so despicably disrespected and hurt. You did not bend down to “their” level. I hope you understand the magnitude of this. You should be proud.
🚨 This is not a criticism, merely an appendage of my tweet, from yesterday, about 𝐡𝐢𝐠𝐡 𝐩𝐫𝐨𝐟𝐢𝐥𝐞 journalists and media; and how they behave in the face of headline national issues.
🇬🇭 50 years from now, a young person may enter Ghana's news archives and look for front… pic.twitter.com/AaxIyptRdA
At the moment, neighboring countries have resorted to military coups to voice their frustrations. I’m cheering for their justice too. I hope and trust they have a plan beyond pushing out the bully. I understand Ghana already did this and today some are still questioning whether or not that provided the progress you deserve. These protests show you don’t need to repeat that. You can lead by example with a different method.
At the moment, the only reliable account of the inital protest is this special episode of the Sincerely Accra podcast. Listen well. Also check out their Twitter Space on that day.
To continue to be up to date on conversations and progress, check out Julorbi Radio below.
As always, the question is “what next?” Here is a tool to explore: the Social Change Ecosystem Map. This can help you gain more insight on where your values and gifts can contribute to social change.
So, my fellow diasporans who ask why Ghanaians “are not angry enough.” Do you now see the cards they are dealt? The police were equipped for war against citizens holding placards. The local media under reported or did not report at all. Some people’s jobs were threatened if they participated. The puppet strings are more complex then you may realize.
Now, my fellow Ghanaians, regardless of which bubble you exist in, please don’t give up on Ghana. Be wise, disciplined, and strategic. Be peaceful and responsible. Avoid distractions and detours. You deserve justice. You deserve more.
To everyone who was involved in-person, virtually, and/or in spirit, please take care and be safe.
What do you get when you put a food scientist, an artisan tea manufacturer, and an innovative chef in the same room? A unique and memorable dining experience. I had the pleasure of attending the first Sip and Savor dinner experience hosted by Crescendo Foods in collaboration with Aguma Tea and Chef Britney. It was a 3-course meal tea pairing. Did you know you could pair tea with every course? Did you know you can cook with tea, too? Let’s indulge, shall we?
The event included a 3-course meal specially created by Chef Britney Andoh incorporating tea from Aguma Tea as a key ingredient. Here was the menu:
With each course, both Clarissa, from Aguma Tea, and Chef Britney joined us at the dining table to explain the inspiration and taste expectations for each course. I was the resident vegan guest and I enjoyed each of my courses. This was my first time at a tea pairing experience and I was pleasantly surprised at how each tea added an extra layer of flavor and personality with each drink and course ingredient. The Vegetable and Mushroom Dumplings in Lippie Tea Soup was spicy and delectable. The Jasmine Tea Rice and Mushroom Steak Bowl had a nice blend of sweet and savory, while still being flavorful and satisfying. The Chai Vegan Cheesecake was yummy. Like, I have no words because I need seconds…yummy.
As a kid, tea was something I was only given as an aid when I was feeling sick or as an aid to fall asleep. However, my mother and brother drink tea casually. My adult experience with tea has been varied, with a few memorably delicious experiences. Trying the variety of flavors Aguma Tea offers has inspired me to step up my tea game and be more intentional in cultivating a worthy tea collection.
The space at Crescendo Foods provides a great ambience for intimate and collaborative dining events. You feel as if you are visiting a good friend’s home, which also happens to feature a private chef, for this event, a co-cooking space, a co-working space, and office space. It’s colorful and cozy.
The Collaboration
I love seeing brands and people collaborate because it provides room to innovate and grow. This event was a collaboration between three brands.
Crescendo Foods is the first food coworking space and shared kitchen hub in Ghana and West Africa. Dr. Wanida Lewis, founder and CEO of Crescendo Foods is filling the gap in food incubators by providing not only events and workshops, but also specializing in recipe development and food safety. Read more about her story here.
The Aguma Tea Company specializes in African teas, flowers, infusions, and herbals. They source their products and packaging from different African countries. Learn more about Clarissa and Aguma Tea here.
Chef Britney Andoh is one of the lead chef’s at NsuomNam Restaurant in Accra. Her dishes are known to be a fusion of traditional African ingredients and modern cooking techniques. She graduated from the Cesar Ritz Colleges in Switzerland with a Bachelor’s Degree in Culinary Arts and Business Management.
Cheers To Pioneers
Sitting at the dining table with the other guests encouraged a variety of interesting conversations. The group of guests were a mixture of Ghanaian, 1st generation diasporan, and diasporan. Naturally, we had to talk about the thought process behind choosing to move, work, or invest in Ghana and Africa. It was lovely to hear and hold space for the different perspectives.
I feel this event is part of the answer to that never ending conversation topic. Part of the thought process is about feeling called to be a pioneer. Each of these ladies are bringing innovation, expertise, and passion to their industries. Filling a gap and contributing to community. The question should not be “why do this in Ghana or Africa when (insert endless list of problems and excuses)?” Instead, it should be “how can I support or connect this to reach who needs this?” Food for thought.
Overall, I enjoyed my time at the first Sip and Savor dining experience at Crescendo Foods in Accra. The collaboration with the Aguma Tea Company and Chef Britney Andoh was informative, delicious, and pleasant. Make sure to check out the other events each of these brands have coming up. It’s worth it. You will enjoy it.
Have you been to a tea pairing dining experience before? Are you into food incubators? Are you are tea enthusiast? Let me know in the comments. I love hearing from you.
As you may know, social dancing continues to be a gift that keeps on giving in my life. From the community to the music to the different dance styles, there is so much to learn and grow with, if you are open to it. I had the pleasure of attending Kizinfinity‘s Night With The Kiz Stars, #NWK23, in Accra. They planned to provide back-to-back enjoyment, and they did not disappoint. The festival included tours to the Central Region, Eastern Region, and Greater Accra, plus dance workshops and parties focused on Kizomba. Here, I would like to share with you a mini-recap of parts of the program I attended, what stood out to me, and why you need to come and support the next one. Let’s indulge, shall we?
The Program
I only attended the dance workshops and parties.
To begin, the opening party was at Soho at Marina Mall. The DJs provided a nice mix of traditional Kizomba, Salsa, Bachata, Urban Kiz, and Afrobeat fusion. The guests were giving what they needed to give.
Next, the workshops, parties, and performances at Wiggles Bar in the Trasacco area. This covered two days.
The workshops were enjoyable and provided a nice variety of style and fun. Each session went pretty fast. I really appreciated that the instructors included some tips for technique within their choreography routine. I also liked the tips on mindset that some of the instructors shared: set your intention to come to dance with your enjoyment as a priority + share your smile and fun with others.
I really appreciate how Kizinfinity dedicated time and effort to organize this program. Communication is one of the most important factors that can make or break an event. NWK23 had a separate Whatsapp group for all guests to be notified of announcements, ask questions, and share event related content. Leading up to the event, Kizinfinity shared (1) a calendar schedule with activity, location, and attire information, (2) short form videos for details on the location, what to explore in and around Accra, and attire inspiration, (3) and an IG live to answer questions, introduce special guests, and reiterate the activity schedule. During the event, Kizinfinity shared in the Whatsapp group welcome messages to guests traveling to Accra, branded text images as reminders for what to expect on each day, and announcements for schedule changes. While on Instagram, they shared branded professional video recaps for each day. At the end of the program, heart-felt “thank you” and “goodbye” messages were shared all around in the Whatsapp group.
The branded media was also on point. There was one official photographer, Kidjo Photography, and one official videographer, EriCarL Appa, covering this event. That is a big deal for one person each. First, timeliness. They both delivered edited media in a very short amount of time, considering how much photos and footage they must have taken. Second, they both did a great job in showcasing the program authentically. I know I am not the only person who sometimes might give a discreet boombastic side-eye to event photos and videos that seem to only show certain angles and cuts to make the event look bigger or better than it actually was. The photos and videos above genuinely represent the size, fun, and hype that this program had. You can see more of the photos on their Facebook page.
The Kizinfinity team also did justice to the level of hospitality Ghanaians pride themselves for. At any given moment during the program, they were checking in with and showing up for their guests in person and online to make sure everyone was comfortable and having fun. As a guest, you came not feeling as if you were attending an event alone, but instead, feeling as if you were a star among a family of wholesome stars.
A few activities inspired me to envision a remix for that activity. Are you open to hear my insight? Are you sure? It’s not by force.
Ok. This is only an imaginative suggestion. Take what resonates with you and, if you choose to, implement it in the way that feels aligned for you. Here we go…
We had one activity where we were taught a dance to do with a traditional African drum. It was fun and an intense workout for some, me included. This got me thinking. I understand the sentiment to incorporate something to showcase traditional culture, especially for the guests who traveled to Accra for the event. Since the majority of the guests are African, could we take more creative license with the traditional African drum? Ok, hear me out. Imagine this. We have the drum / dance instructor with 10 additional different drums. Everyone who wants to participate gets a chance to play one of the drums. The activity begins with learning the significance behind each type of drum and certain rhythms. Then we are taught a 2 or 3 part rhythm to play together. Simple enough to get the hang of it quickly, but a little complex to be interesting. Those who are not drumming are given the challenge to dance Kizomba (or some variation of it) to the rhythm the new drummers were taught. We go maybe 2 or 3 rounds so the new drummers also get a chance to dance, if they want to.
Do you see how beautiful such an experience could be? Looking at the types of people who attended this program, by all means some will add there own singing or special effects to the rhythm. In this way, you are able to incorporate traditional culture with the theme of the program plus provide an opportunity for creative collaboration, which would seamlessly flow into the next workshop dance activity.
It’s an idea. Flow with it. I’m sure you can add more to make it work better for you.
Things We Can All Take Note Of For Social Dances / Festivals / Fiestas
Venue
For social dances in general in Accra, I have observed how finding and convincing a venue to participate can be tricky. Most of the time, the venue is a restaurant / bar that has agreed for the social dance to occur on a day they either have low traffic or have customers that will see the social dance as free entertainment. As the social dance community in Accra continues to grow and evolve, I hope and trust more quality venues in Accra continue to recognize its value and continue to enhance the experience. That way, there can be more venues that provide the right floor for dancing, temperature control or relief, comfortable seating, appropriate music equipment, and genuine interest in the dance community.
Timing
There is a fascinating need to balance the intricate dynamic between CP time (Colored People Time), GMT (Ghana Man Time), and scheduled time. During this program, the organizers, instructors, and DJ’s were ready at the time they were scheduled. The opening party was scheduled for 8pm on a Wednesday. At 8pm on that Wednesday, the music was playing and the floor was ready. The workshops were scheduled to start at 4pm on Friday and Saturday. At 4pm on Friday and Saturday, the music was playing and the instructors were ready. However, the guests were not all ready. This was not as much of a glitch for the parties, but this did cause a change in schedule for the workshops.
I understand that some guests come to these festivals only for the dance parties, which is fine. However, for the ones who sign up for the workshops, we can do better. On the organizer side, it might be beneficial to have more of a gap of time between the workshops and parties, but again, that is dependent on guest attendance. Would it make a difference if program tickets were divided for parties only and workshop + parties to get a better sense of who will attend the workshops? How can we entice guests to show up closer to the start time? On the guest side, if a program has already demonstrated they are punctual, why keep them waiting for you? Would a different time schedule work better for you?
I feel we can create a win-win situation for all sides. It will get there eventually.
Etiquette
Kindness and boundaries are important and should be respected. This is something that came up during this program (and has come up a number of times in social dancing in Accra in general), so it stood out to me. This is not to generalize or indict anyone, but I feel as a community, being more open in communicating how we are making an effort to ensure this is a safe community for everyone is beneficial for all of us.
Kizomba is a fun dance. There are variations of it that can make the dance more intimate, which requires balancing each dance partners comfort zones. Up to this point, I have primarily danced as a “follow.” The main glitch I have experienced and witnessed is a mismatch in understanding and a mismatch in accommodating or correcting when a boundary or request is articulated.
This is not to single out one particular gender or one side of the dance. “Follows” are also capable of overstepping boundaries or being a mismatch. Sometimes, a “lead” does not know there is an issue because a “follow” did not articulate it or speak up. For all of us who are supportive of this community and genuinely are not here to cause harm, I feel we can create a win-win situation. We can all continue to hold space for each other to learn and evolve our comfort zones, articulate our boundaries, look out for each other, and accommodate different requests and styles without feeling concerned about being judged or ostracized.
What To Expect At Night With The Kiz Stars, NWK
If it is not already obvious, you can expect back-to-back enjoyment at Kizinfinity’s Night With The Kiz Stars. A diverse community who share a common passion for dance and fun. A program that is organized, intentional, and understands the assignment. An experience in Accra that is different from your typical night life or tourist attraction. Memories that you will cherish forever. An opportunity to “show dem.”
Thank you to the Kizinfinity team and the dance community. I am looking forward to the next one.
Let’s go outside! Did you know the Kwame Nkrumah Memorial Park and Mausoleum is now re-opened to the public? Would you like to know what to expect? I had the pleasure of visiting the newly renovated Kwame Nkrumah Memorial Park and Mausoleum on a beautiful and sunny Saturday afternoon. I also picked up a few observations and thoughts I wanted to share with you. Let’s indulge, shall we?
First, logistics. As of the time of posting this, the ticket prices are as follows:
Regarding the renovations, I feel they did a beautiful job in enhancing and redefining the space. The moment you walk through the entrance gate, you meet a large Welcome sign and a profile illustration of Kwame Nkrumah. You feel as if you are being transported into a full dedicated experience. Uplifting music is playing nearby. On the day that I went, people of all ages were enjoying their time as they took photos and explored.
Yes, the sky was actually this blue and beautiful on a Saturday afternoon in July. Lucky me.
The reception hall is decorated with a pleasant blend of minimalistic clean lines and Ghanaian colorful culture. The high ceiling and large windows make it feel spacious and refreshing. Depending on when you go, there might be a bit of a line to purchase your ticket.
The architect behind the new design, who is Ghanaian, was able to enhance the park with a signature millennial aesthetic by creating multiple spaces that cater to ambiance, easy photos and videos, and history in a relaxed and pleasant vibe. The fountain sings a different upbeat song every hour. The garden is lush and green. All the architecture doubles up as the perfect backdrop. It is giving what it needs to give.
Now, for the museum. This is where I feel there is room to do a lot more.
There are two parts to the museum. Upstairs, you walk through a hall. The floors, walls, and ceiling are black with quotes from Kwame Nkrumah written in gold font. As you are walking, you hear in the distance Kwame Nkrumah’s voice as he speaks announcing Ghana’s independence. At the top, there is a screen looping the video of that speech. Downstairs, you walk through a room to view key points of Kwame Nkrumah’s life. This room includes photos and artifacts.
This is where I feel a lot more can be added. For me, walking through this room felt as if I was reading facts from a Wikipedia page or encyclopedia. They were all factual, but they did not include any context. For example, on one side of the room, there are images of Ghanaians celebrating Kwame Nkrumah as president. On the other side of the room, there are images of Ghanaians celebrating tearing down Kwame Nkrumah’s statue. There is nothing in the middle to explain these two extreme positions. As another example, there is long blocks of text listing all the factories, schools, hospitals, industries, and initiatives Kwame Nkrumah developed and established. Again, no context on what that did for Ghana.
Are you open to hear my feedback on what would help with this? Are you sure? Ok.
I feel details on what Kwame Nkrumah’s writings were about are important to showcase in the museum to better illustrate what his definition and thoughts were on Pan-Africanism, Ghana, freedom, etc. The gap between independence and coup d’état should include details of the CIA’s involvement, the Ghanaians who participated in it, and the historical use of the illusion of democracy vs communism propaganda. The image of the “big 6” should include details on who among them were involved in the overthrow of Kwame Nkrumah and how since that day Ghana’s presidency continues to only involve the families of the “big 6” with a few breaks in between due to military coups. It would be cool to have an infographic depicting every industry and initiative Kwame Nkrumah established illustrating when it was opened, how it impacted Ghana, when it was closed or destroyed, and who was responsible for shutting it down.
I feel the library, which at the moment of this post is an empty room and will most likely be completed later, should have copies of Kwame Nkrumah’s books available to read physically and on screens.
Ok, ok. I hear you. This might be too much pepper. But I believe we can handle it. We deserve it.
To be transparent with you, I did not go to school in Ghana. I see what Ghana represents inside and outside of Ghana. Outside, Ghana is a beacon of hope for Pan-Africanism, freedom, and liberation. Outside, Ghanaians are respected for their work ethic, culture, achievements, and hospitality. Outside, Kwame Nkrumah is a legend. Inside, Ghana is hard paa…depending on which bubble you exist in. Inside, Ghanaians are divided, distracted, enjoying, and progressing. Inside, Kwame Nkrumah is a list of dates, depending on whether your family supported him or not.
None of these things are good or bad. It is what it is. Please understand that I am not trying to instigate insults or belittle anyone’s experience. But, do you see why it is so important to make Kwame Nkrumah’s full story be accessible to all? Yes, this park is a tourist attraction. So, it is an opportunity to set the record straight. I’m sure this will not interrupt US-Ghana relations. But also, this park is one of the few places in Accra to learn an aspect of Ghana’s history. Ghanaian students should be going on field trips to visit this park. Does Ghana’s school system teach the full story? These students should be able to come to the park and learn how strategic one needs to be to make a difference for their people. Or do we still want to make sure no one can pick up from where Kwame Nkrumah left off?
I understand, everyone is tired. But, your children are not. They will grow up and hopefully say no to the enemy of progress one day. Why not give them the tools to develop that confidence now?
Again, this is an intellectual and social conversation, respectfully. I am keen to hear different perspectives on what this could look like. What are your thoughts? Share with me in the comments. I love hearing from you.
Also, make sure to visit this park. It is definitely worth the visit.
Dagny Zenovia 