GHANA-BLESSED BY A PLETHORA OF ARTISTS

GHANA’S ART MOVEMENT

GHANA IS EXTREMELY BLESSED WITH WONDERFUL LOCAL ARTISTS. THERE MUST BE SOMETHING IN THE WATER BECAUSE IT SEEMS THAT EVERYONE CAN CREATE ART-WHETHER IT BE SCULPTING, PAINTING OR EVEN SAND ART! THERE ARE ARTISTS DOING THEIR ART EVERYWHERE YOU GO & THE COMMON THEME IS TO TELL THE STORIES OF GHANA & AFRICA. PRESERVING SHARING, AND CELEBRATING HISTORY & CULTURE SEEMS TO BE THE MOVEMENT IN ART IN GHANA. IT IS BEYOND BEAUTIFUL TO SEE ARTISTS CREATE EFFORTLESSLY & FLAWLESSLY BECAUSE IT IS SO MUCH A PART OF WHO THEY ARE!

GHANA- BLACK STAR RISING!

I BELIEVE SO MUCH IN THE FUTURE OF GHANA & ITS FUTURE LEADERS. IN MY PASSION TO UPLIFT, I REALIZED THAT MY DELIVERY OR APPROACH MAY COME OF A LITTLE TOO AGGRESSIVE OR DOWNING RATHER THAN MY ACTUAL INTENTION OF UPLIFTMENT. IT’S THE STRENGTH OF MY PASSION & UNDYING BELIEF THAT THERE IS SO MUCH TO BE DONE & CAN BE DONE HERE IN GHANA, BY ITS PEOPLE FOR ITS PEOPLE. MY LACK OF PATIENCE & INGRAINED BELIEF THAT WE MUST LIVE EVERYDAY LIKE IT’S OUR LAST, THEREFORE WE SHOULD NOT PUT OFF FOR TOMORROW WHAT WE CAN DO TODAY, SOMETIMES BRINGS FORTH A SENSE OF URGENCY & AGGRESSIVE- LET ME LIGHT A FIRE UNDER YOU- TYPE OF ENERGY THAT CAN BE TOO MUCH TO TAKE BECAUSE WE ALL MOVE AT OUR OWN SPEEDS & DELIVER OUR PASSIONS DIFFERENTLY I AM A GHANAIAN WOMAN –THE TAKE CHARGE POWER FLOWS THRU MY VEINS- THE POWERFUL ENERGY FLOWS WITHOUT ME EVEN REALIZING JUST HOW STRONG IT CAN BE! MY COUSIN REFERRED TO BE AS A LIONESS- IF THE PRETTY LITTLE LION’S SHOES FIT THAN I AM MORE THAN READY TO WEAR IT & LET OUT A MELODIOUS LOUD ROAR TO STRENGTHEN & TAKE CARE OF MY CUBS!

BIG UP! TO THE PEER PRESSURE CREW, WHO I AM SURE YOU WILL ALL BE HEARING ABOUT SOON IF YOU DON’T ALREADY KNOW. MUSIC IS DEFINITELY THE SPICE OF LIFE IN GHANA. THE SMILES, BODY MOVEMENTS, DEEP CONTEMPLATION OF WORDS & SOUNDS THAT SHINES OFF OF GHANAIANS IS UPLIFTING & PUTS A SMILE ON MY FACE. THERE’S A CERTAIN FEEL GOOD ENERGY THAT COMES FROM MUSIC WHICH CAN REPLACE OR SATIATE ANY WORRIES, DESPAIR OR OBSTACLE!!

GHANA’S MUSICAL ROOTS RUNS VERY DEEP & THE CULTURE OF MUSIC IS SO RICH. WANLOV THE KUBOLOR IS THE TRUTH & THE PATIENT, CALM SERENE REVOLUTIONARY WHO NEEDS TO BE HEARD WORLDWIDE! HIS WORDS ARE REAL, HUMOROUS, RAW, UPLIFTING & RELEVANT. HIS VIBE IS ECLECTIC, PEACEFUL, UNIVERSAL & WITHOUT BOARDERS. HE IS AN AMAZING HUMAN BEING WHO REALLY REPRESENTS THE WARMTH & PASSION OF GHANAIAN PEOPLE. HE HAS DECIDED TO STUDY THE ROOTS OF GHANA’S MUSIC TO KEEP THE RICH HISTORY ALIVE & VIBRANT BY BRIDGING THE GAP BETWEEN OLD & NEW BY INCORPORATING THE ROOTS OF GHANA’S NATIVE INSTRUMENTS & SOUND INTO HIS MUSIC. IT WAS A PLEASURE TO SEE HIM LIVE ON STAGE BRINGING TOGETHER THE KEEPERS OF GHANA’S MUSICAL ROOTS, WHILE GIVING US ALL A QUICK, ENJOYABLE HISTORY LESSON OF NATIVE INSTRUMENTS THAT ARE BECOMING EXTINCT IN GHANA. WHAT A BEAUTIFUL SOUL THAT YOU MUST ALL SUPPORT!

THE ONE THING I HAVE REALIZED IS THAT OUR UNIVERSE IS SO PARALLEL. THE SAME THINGS IN THE MUSIC INDUSTRY WITH THE CRITICISM OF HIP-HOP, ITS LYRICAL CONTENT, IMAGERY, THE WHOLE BIG PIMPIN', BALLIN' LIFESTYLE EXISTS HERE! I READ AN ARTICLE IN THE PAPER YESTERDAY BASICALLY CALLING FOR A BAN ON THE HIP-LIFE (GHANA’S HIP-HOP) & ALL THE NEW YOUNG ARTISTS COMING OUT, BE IT SINGERS, RAPPERS ETC. BECAUSE THE ELDERS FEEL THAT THEY HAVE BASTARDIZE THE CULTURE, HISTORY & RESPECT OF GHANAIAN MUSIC WITH RACY LYRICS & IMAGERY. AS THE REPORTER SAID “ALL THEY TALK ABOUT IS HOW TO GET WITH WOMEN & PLEASURE WOMEN”.

THE CREW I MET, KWAKU T, EDDIE BLAY, REGGIE ROCKSTONE, SENA, WANLOV AND MANY MORE, ARE BUCKING THE TREND & SHOWCASING THE BLACK STARS’ RISING!! THEY REFER TO THEIR MUSIC/MOVEMENT AS “HIGHER LIFE” MUSIC, WHICH THEY SEE AS A MORE CONSCIOUS LEVEL OF HIP-LIFE (THE CROSS BETWEEN HIP-HOP & GHANA’S TRADITIONAL HI-LIFE MUSIC). I TRULY BELIEVE IN THESE ARTISTS & CAN’T WAIT FOR THE REST OF THE WORLD TO SEEK THEM OUT.

THE BATTLE BETWEEN OLD & NEW CONTINUES UNIVERSALLY SO INSTEAD OF FIGHTING IT, WE NEED TO HAVE THE MEETING OF THE MINDS, THE PASSING OF THE TORCH INSTEAD OF A HOSTILE TAKE-OVER IN ORDER TO TRULY BRIDGE THE GAP. WE ARE ALL NEVER TOO YOUNG OR TOO OLD TO LEARN SOMETHING NEW & WE ALL HAVE SOMETHING THAT WE CAN LEARN FROM ONE ANOTHER AS CITIZENS OF THE UNIVERSE.

I WAS SITTING OUTSIDE OUR GO TO SPOT, HONEYSUCKLE, WHEN 3 LIBERIAN GIRLS SPEAKING ENGLISH LIKE THEY WHERE STRAIGHT FROM THE HOOD IN BROOKLYN, NYC , STARTED A CIPHER VERY REMINISCENT OF THE LYRICAL STYLES & CONTENT OF LIL KIM’S “BIG MOMMA THANG” OR FOXY’S “AIN’T NO NIGGA” MIXED WITH A LITTLE BEYONCE’S “UPGRADE YOU”! IT WAS INTERESTING TO ME BECAUSE I JUST SHOOK MY HEAD AT SOME OF THE LYRICS THAT WERE COMING OUT OF THEIR MOUTHS, WHILE REALIZING THAT I USED TO BUMP THE SHIZZNIZZ OUT OF BOTH KIM & FOXY, BUT NOW I AM A LITTLE OLDER & MORE CONSCIOUS WITH MORE RESPONSIBILITIES PLACED ON MY PLATE; THEREFORE I MUST BE MORE CONSCIOUS & RESPONSIBLE WITH LIFE REGARDING MY OWN WORDS & ACTIONS & HOW THEY EFFECT OTHERS. WE MUST ALL BE GIVEN A CHANCE TO GROW, MAKE MISTAKES, AND CHANGE WHEN & HOW WE SEE FIT. SOME MAY NEVER CHANGE OR MAY NEVER CHANGE IN THE MANNER THAT OTHERS MAY WANT THEM TO, BUT IT IS THEIR RIGHT TO LIVE & BE HEARD. I STILL LOVE ME SOME OL' SKOOL KIM & FOXY , BUT I HAVE GROWN ENOUGH TO SEE THAT LIFE IS MORE THAN “PARTY & BULLSHIT”, EVEN THOUGH IT CAN TAKE THE EDGE OFF SOMETIMES & IS NECESSARY FOR SOME TO TRULY LIVE LIFE FULLY INSTEAD OF BEING CONSUMED BY LIFE & ALL OF ITS PROBLEMS! GHANAIANS HAVE THE WHOLE IDEA OF “ENJOYING LIFE IN SPITE OF YOUR OBSTACLES” DOWN TO A SCIENCE. THERE IS NO SENSE OF URGENCY MORE IMPORTANT THAN GHANAIANS ENJOYMENT OF LIFE. BLACK STARS PLAY FUTBAL –EVERYTHING STOPS & THE CELEBRATING BEGINS! IT’S A BEAUTIFUL THING & THE UNITY & PRIDE IN GHANA IS REAL, EVEN THOUGH IT CAN SOMETIMES BE MISGUIDED & MISPLACED!

ALL EYES ON AFRICA-THE DOC.-FORWARD EVER , BACKWARD NEVER

REVELATIONS & SOUL CONTEMPLATIONS
THE VISION IS SO GRAND
THE DESTINY IS SO REAL
THE WORK IS SO NEAR, DEAR & CLOSE TO THE HEART
I’VE BEEN TALKING THE TALK & HAVING SO MUCH PRIDE ABOUT MY GHANAIAN HERITAGE FOR TOO LONG, TO ACCEPT A TAINTED, STAGNANT FOR THE MASSES VERSION OF IT. THE COUNTRY & THE WORLD IS READY TO REVIVE NKRUMAH’S BLACK STAR EVOLUTION, NOT JUST FOR THE BENEFIT OF ONE COUNTRY BUT FOR THE CONTINENT AS A WHOLE!!
I VISITED THE NKRUMAH MAUSOLEUM TODAY & DID THE FULL TOUR WITH MY CREW. I WAS ASHAMED TO HEAR THAT I HAVE A COPY OF A BOOK PURCHASED IN THE US, WRITTEN BY NKRUMAH, THAT IS NOT AVAILABLE IN GHANA TO HER PEOPLE OR THE WORLD DIRECTLY FROM GHANA!

WHAT IS A DEMOCRACY THAT SUPPRESSES ITS DEMOCRATIC INDEPENDENT ROOTS BY NOT MAKING IT EASILY & READILY AVAILABLE IN ITS ENTIRETY & SPECIFICALLY IN ITS WRITTEN FORM THRU THE WORDS, MOVEMENTS, IMAGES, INNER THOUGHTS, TEACHINGS & LEARNING BY THE ONE THAT MADE IT AN ACTUALITY!

A TRUE DEMOCRACY IS ONE BY THE PEOPLE FOR THE PEOPLE!
WHICH MEANS THE PEOPLE MUST TAKE OWNERSHIP OF THEIR OWN PARTICIPATION,
BY NOT EXCEPTING THE ILLS OF GOVERNANCE AS STATUS QUO OR JUST THE WAY IT IS!!
I DO NOT WANT TO HEAR ANOTHER PERSON TELL ME THAT THIS IS JUST THE WAY IT IS, WELCOME TO AFRICA/GHANA, OR THIS IS JUST THE WAY THINGS WORK.
DO WE NOT BELIEVE THAT WE HAVE ANY CONTROL OVER OUR WAY OF LIFE OR DESTINY? MUST EVERYTHING BE LEFT IN GOD’S HANDS? TO ME GOD IS NOT JUST SOME UNKNOWN SPIRIT, BUT IT IS A SPIRIT WITHIN US ALL & IT IS THE ENERGY & BELIEF IN THIS SPIRIT THAT HELPS THOSE WHO TRY TO HELP THEMSELVES


“FORWARD EVER, BACKWARD NEVER”

THIS IS THE CHANT OF GHANA BY WAY OF NKRUMAH. TRUE LEADERS WILL HOLD STEADFAST TO THE MEANING OF THE WORDS THRU TRUE ACTION. FIRST & FOREMOST BY MAKING IS NKRUMAH’S WRITINGS AVAILABLE FOR THE PEOPLE OF GHANA ! HOW CAN ONE AVOID PAST MISTAKES , SEEK & BELIEVE IN THEIR OWN GREATNESS & POTENTIAL IF THEIR HISTORY IS NOT AVAILABLE TO THEM IN ITS TOTALITY! THIS IS AN EXTREME DISSERVICE TO THE PEOPLE OF GHANA AND IN PARTICULARLY THE YOUTH. WHAT IS A GHANAIAN EDUCATION SYSTEM WITHOUT NKRUMAH’S WRITINGS AS PART OF THE CORE CURRICULUM, IF WE ARE TRULY INTERESTED IN MOLDING & CREATING FUTURE LEADERS THAT WILL CARRY OUT THE THE MOTTO OF “FORWARD EVER, BACKWARD NEVER”.

THE ENTIRE WORLD PREACHES ABOUT EDUCATION BEING THE KEY TO A BRIGHTER FUTURE, YET WE FAIL TO FULLY EDUCATE ALL OF OUR PEOPLE ACROSS THE UNIVERSE BY SUPPRESSING INFORMATION & MAKING IT UNAFFORDABLE & UNATTAINABLE TO THOSE WHO CAN BENEFIT FROM IT THE MOST. THE FUTURE OF GHANA AS WELL AS OUR GLOBAL WORLD IS WITH ITS YOUNG PEOPLE; THEREFORE WE MUST BE STEADFAST IN THE PROPER PASSING DOWN OF HISTORY & CULTURE WITH A MUTUAL RESPECT IN THE PRESERVATION & PROGRESS OF OUR HISTORY & CULTURE!

“A NATION WITHOUT ANY HISTORY IS LIKE A TREE WITHOUT ROOTS, THAT KIND OF TREE CAN NEVER BARE NO FRUIT, BEFORE YOU DANCE ABROAD YOU’VE GOT TO LEARN TO DANCE A YARD, SELF EMPOWERMENT DON’T EVEN COST THE SAME , JUST SOME LITTLE WORDS OF WISDOM TO LEAD YOUR MINDS TO FREEDOM… DON’T WANT & EXPECT ANY HAND OUTS, YOU CAN DO FOR YOURSELF, JUST PUT YOUR SHOULDER TO THE WHEEL & I AM SURE YOU WILL HELP YOURSELF, LEARN A LITTLE MORE ABOUT YOUR HISTORY SO YOU CAN BETTER KNOW YOURSELF- EMANCIPATE YOURSELF FROM MENTAL SLAVERY” MORGAN HERITAGE

MY SENSE OF PRIDE & FAITH IN GHANA’S POTENTIAL COMES FROM KNOWING & READING ABOUT THE HISTORY OF KWAME NKRUMAH. MY REASON FOR TAKING ON & REALIZING MY OWN DREAMS WITH THIS DOCUMENTARY IS BECAUSE OF NKRUMAH’S IDEAL , DREAM, & UNABASHED PRIDE IN THE UNIFICATION OF AFRICA FOR THE GREATNESS, SELF SUFFICIENCY AND SELF RESPECT FOR THE CONTINENT AS A WHOLE!

THRU ALL THE HARDSHIPS, UPS & DOWNS OF THIS TRIP TO GHANA, THE ONE THING THAT I CAN’T GET OUT OF MY MIND IS HEARING THE TOUR GUIDE TELL ME THAT NKRUMAH’S WRITINGS ARE NOT AVAILABLE FOR PURCHASE IN GHANA.

I URGE THE EDUCATORS TO RECTIFY THIS AS SOON POSSIBLE, IF GOVERNMENT DOESN’T SEE THIS AS A DISGRACE & PRIORITY FOR ITS COUNTRY. GHANA IS KNOWN GLOBALLY BECAUSE OF NKRUMAH, AND TO LIMIT HIS GREATNESS & ACHIEVEMENTS TO JUST A NAME, SHRINE & STATUE WITHOUT BEING ABLE TO GET THE INFORMATION THAT GAVE HIM, GHANA & AFRICA GLOBAL RECOGNITION IS BEYOND REPULSIVE. HATE HIM OR LOVE HIM-YOU CAN’T DENY HIM!

THERE IS A CERTAIN ENERGY IN THE AIR OF YOUNG PEOPLE BEING FED UP WITH THE STATUS QUO & GHANA’S IRREVERENCE IN HAVING RESPECT FOR YOUR ELDERS, EVEN WHEN THEY ARE NOT GOOD ELDERS OR TRUE LEADERS. EDUCATED RADICALS LIKE NKRUMAH ARE BY FAR MORE FEARED THAN RADICALS WHO JUST RIOT & WAR. ARE NKRUMAH'S WRITINGS NOT MADE AVAILABLE BECAUSE IT WILL GIVE THE BLUEPRINT TO CHANGE THE STATUS QUO & MAKE PEOPLE REALIZE THAT THE LITTLE CRUMBS THEY ARE GIVEN ARE NOT TRUE PROGRESS BECAUSE IT HAS ALL BEEN DONE BEFORE ON A GREATER GLOBAL SCALE & SOMEHOW WE DID GO BACKWARDS INSTEAD OF FORWARD EVER!

I HAVE MET A DYNAMIC PARLIAMENTARIAN WITH GREAT POTENTIAL & EXACTLY WHAT I KNOW GHANA TO BE AS A LEADER IN AFRICA & THE GLOBAL WORLD! HIS VISION, OPENNESS & WAY WITH THE PEOPLE FOR THE PEOPLE IS FASCINATING & THE BREATH OF REAL FRESH AIR NEEDED IN GHANA. EACH GREAT LEADER IS A LEADER BECAUSE HE/SHE IS HIS/HER OWN PERSON! GHANA SHOULD NOT WAIT FOR OR EXPECT THE NEXT NKRUMAH, BUT STAND UP , FIGHT & CHOOSE THE NEXT GREAT LEADER WHO WILL RECOGNIZE & ACHIEVE GHANA’S GREAT POTENTIAL! THE WORLD IS CHANGING & WE ALL MUST PARTICIPATE & CHANGE WITH IT!

FOR THE PEOPLE BY THE PEOPLE MEANS PEOPLE MUST INVEST IN THEMSELVES & SOCIETY BY PAYING PROPERTY TAXES & OTHER TAXES IN ORDER TO BENEFIT SOCIETY IN TERMS OF HEALTHCARE , INFRASTRUCTURE, ROADS, RUNNING CLEAN WATER, AND ENVIRONMENTAL ISSUES. THERE IS NO PRIDE IN BEGGING OR CONSTANTLY FEELING YOU HAVE LESS THAN ANOTHER! I HAVE NEVER BELIEVED THAT I WAS LESS THAN ANOTHER OR BELIEVED THAT I COULD EVER HAVE MY DREAMS DEFERRED, IF I PUT IN THE WORK BECAUSE OF MY GHANAIAN HERITAGE! TO COME BACK TO GHANA & SEE PEOPLE BE SO COMPLACENT & CONSTANTLY LEAVING WHAT CAN BE DONE TODAY FOR TOMORROW IS DISHEARTENING BECAUSE I KNOW WE ARE BETTER THAN THAT! TOMORROW IS NEVER PROMISED, SO DO NOT LEAVE FOR TOMORROW WHAT CAN BE DONE TODAY! THIS IS MY ADVICE TO MY PEOPLE OF GHANA & REALLY TO THE UNIVERSE BECAUSE I SEE THIS SENSE OF POWERLESSNESS & COMPLACENCY IN THE USA AS WELL, ESPECIALLY AMONGST MY OWN FELLOW AFRICAN-AMERICANS.

AS AN AMERICAN & A GHANAIAN , PAN AFRICANISM HAS ALWAYS BEEN PART OF WHO I AM & KNOW MY IMMEDIATE HISTORY TO BE. IT HAS NEVER BEEN AGAINST ANY OPPRESSOR, BUT ABOUT MY OWN POTENTIAL, SELF SUFFICIENCY, SELF CONFIDENCE, & CONTRIBUTION TOWARD A SOCIETY AS A WHOLE!

THE LAST TIME I WAS IN GHANA WAS DURING THE ELECTIONS WHEN KUFUOR WAS ELECTED TO HIS FIRST TERM IN GHANA & GEORGE W. BUSH WAS BASICALLY HANDED THE ELECTION IN THE USA. THE PAST 8 YEARS HAVE BEEN PROGRESSIVE FOR GHANA IN TERMS OF THE ECONOMY & FORWARD MOVEMENTS & THINKING; WHETHER IT IS AT THE LEVEL THAT PEOPLE WANT TO SEE & BENEFIT FROM IT DEPENDS ON THE INDIVIDUAL WHO COMMENTS ON IT. AMERICA WITHIN THE LAST 8 YEARS HAS BEEN CAUGHT IN A WAR , HAS BASICALLY LOST ANY SENSE OF BEING A GLOBAL LEADER OR SUPERPOWER & IS NOW IN A RECESSION WHERE THE DOLLAR IS WEAK IN COUNTRIES LIKE GHANA. 8 YEARS AGO , MY DOLLAR WENT A LONG WAY IN GHANA! IF THE PEOPLE OF GHANA DO NOT SEE ANY PROGRESS, THEN THEY ARE PART OF THE PROBLEM. ONE MAN & ONE GOD CAN NOT SAVE AN ENTIRE NATION OR CONTINENT IF THE PEOPLE CHOOSE TO BE COMPLACENT & ALWAYS LEAVE THINGS FOR TOMORROW OR LEAVE EVERYTHING IN GOD’S HANDS.

NKRUMAH’S IDEAS OF UNITY & UTILIZING THE PEOPLE OF GHANA TO BE INVOLVED IN THEIR OWN GOVERNANCE, AS HE HAD WATCHED, LEARNED & PARTICIPATED IN DURING THE CIVIL RIGHTS MOVEMENT IN THE USA, IS A MAJOR PART OF HIS LEGACY THAT NEEDS TO BE RECOGNIZED BY THE PEOPLE OF GHANA TO DO THEIR PART. IT TOOK THE PEOPLE TO STAND IN UNIFICATION TOGETHER & DEMAND PROPER RECOGNITION FROM GOVERNMENT FOR THE MUCH NEEDED CHANGES TO OCCUR IN THE USA & IN GHANA. I FEEL WE ARE AT THAT PERIOD AGAIN WHERE THE USA HAS BEEN BASICALLY CRIPPLED ECONOMICALLY & SOCIALLY CALLING FOR RADICAL CHANGE IN GOVERNANCE, WHILE GHANA IS CELEBRATING A CLINTONESQUE PERIOD & MUST BE CAREFUL TO MOVE FORWARD & NOT GO BACKWARD IN ELECTING/OR HAVING AN ELECTION TAKEN BY THE WRONG TYPE OF LEADER, WHO WILL TAKE GHANA BACKWARDS AS BUSH DID TO THE USA AS WELL AS RAWLINGS& OTHERS DID TO GHANA.

I HAVE NOT DECIDED ON CLINTON OR OBAMA YET, AS I PRESS FORWARD TO VOTE IN THE ELECTIONS IN THE US. AS A NEW YORK SENATOR , CLINTON HAS NOT PROVEN HERSELF TO ME AS BENEFICIAL TO MY STATE OR ME & THE PROGRESS THAT I WANT TO SEE, SO HOW CAN I PROMOTE HER TO BENEFIT THE ENTIRE COUNTRY? OBAMA IS THE RIPE, PROGRESSIVE SELF MADE MIND THAT WE NEED AT A TIME WHEN SUPER POWERS CEASE TO EXIST AS WE ONCE KNEW THEM TO BE. GLOBALIZATION IS NOW THE STATUS QUO OF PROGRESS AND EVERY INDIVIDUAL COUNTRY IN THE WORLD HAS AN OPPORTUNITY TO BE A PLAYER & A TRUE LEADER! IT SEEMS MOST PEOPLE IN GHANA SEEM TO BE PUSHING TOWARD THE SON OF ONE OF GHANA'S "BIG SIX", AKUFFO-ADDO. I AM NOT FAMILIAR WITH THE FORMER PRESIDENCY OF THE SENIOR AKUFFO-ADDO, BUT I HEAR HIS SON IS THE TYPE OF NO NONSENSE STERN LEADER WITH GREAT BUSINESS SENSE & HOPEFULLY GREAT APTITUDE TOWARD SOCIAL CHANGES TO BENEFIT ALL THE PEOPLE OF GHANA!





MOST PEOPLE THINK GREAT GOD WILL COME FROM THE SKY, TAKE AWAY EVERYTHING & MAKE EVER BODY FEEL HIGH, BUT IF YOU KNOW WHAT LIFE IS WORTH ,YOU WILL LOOK FOR YOURS ON EARTH & NOW YOU SEE THE LIGHT GET UP STAND UP FOR YOUR RIGHTS..

ROBERT NESTER MARLEY

AFRICA CUP OF NATIONS- ALL EYES ON AFRICA -THE DOC.

Africa Cup Of Nations-All Eyes On Africa


Hello world!! I am in Ghana, West Africa!! Finally back to my roots after an 8 year absence. My experience thus far has been healing, trying, a sense of relief, a sense of frustration, a feeling of exaltation and most of all a sense of release & relief!Ghana has come a long way in terms of industry, creativity & foreign investment culminating into an unabashed sense of pride, with a growing movement toward being a true star, not only in Africa but globally. However, Ghana also has a long way to go in terms of recognizing that being a boss, having a title, an unabashed sense of entitlement & the ability to truly attain all of the goals & promise which the country is so ripe for, takes true leaders.I came here on a great mission to give back & to reconnect to a place that meant so much to who I define myself to be, only to get hit with a quick reality check that perhaps I gave my people way more props than they really deserve. I made a personal investment in a documentary to show the world that Africa & in particularly Ghana, was more than the misery, begging, incapable, uneducated, killing, disease infested, starving images that constantly get international attention . I quickly came to recognize the reality that we hold our own selves back & receive such negative press because of the individual need to feel important in spite of the common good & bigger picture thru individual irresponsible actions & greed.

This is such an important year for Ghana in its 50th year of Independence, while heading up the AU, to recognize & complete Kwame Nkrumah's idyllic call for a united Africa, for the good, self sufficiency and progression of the continent as a whole ! The Black Stars did their part in the world cup toward the type of leadership that makes all Africans worldwide proud. The Black Stars forced the world to give Africa its due respect! To be the host nation after such recognition should have made Ghana meticulously prepared to welcome the international community to her doors with organization befitting a great nation of true leaders. Unfortunately the LOC (LOCAL ORGANISING COMMITTEE), who I have now dubbed the Local dis-Organized Committee along with their partners in chaos CAF, tarnished what should & could have been a stellar display of greatness, with their horrific disorganization & disrespect. The people of Ghana and especially the Black Stars deserved much better than that. The great international press that should have been singing Ghana's praises was tainted with reports of chaos with accreditations for international & local press, and just general lack of preparation & organization.

I was appalled to be standing amongst hundreds of frustrated press people trying to figure out what was going on with their press passes , just for a White man, who was handling international press for CAF to look a bunch of Black faces in the eyes & cynically tell us "Welcome to Africa". This was just the beginning of the embarrassment to this country & its people. I was completely angered to see that the CAF representative did not even see anything wrong with his words & actions on the soil of Nkrumah, who would have be turning in his grave at such a display. I quickly found out that this behavior is seen as acceptable because his own "Boss", Mr. Abubar, showed the most horrific display of disrespect for his fellow human being by snatching personal documents from a gentleman I was with and causing a complete scene, screaming & yelling while showcasing his bossman bravado with very little knowledge of what it means to be a leader. This to me is really the Bain of Africa's existence & its progression. Mr Paa Kwesi Plange, who was in charge of press on behalf of the LOC, assured me in a wonderful e-mail while I was in New York, telling me how I was welcomed with my documentary & that this is my home, looked me in the eyes on Ghana's soil & once again assured me of our approval for coverage , just to have us running around chasing him for days while he neglected his duties, then causing us problems with members of CAF, who felt we should have gone thru them because they are in charge . One week later we are still waiting to get sorted out & accomplish what we came a very long way to do.

I am still very determined & uncompromised on my mission here & have found great examples of what & who I know my people to be! The people are fantastic, the food is great, I am amongst family, the Black Stars continue to win, Africans & their supporters are gathered together in friendship & sport, the music & entertainment scene is alive & thriving along with the economy. Ghana’s progress is in a full throttle global fusion with the world!

All eyes on Africa-the story will be fully told!