Why isn’t there a national holiday for Dr. Kwame Nkrumah, The First Black President?

It is now about a month or so after the much to do about nothing hoopla of President Obama’s visit to Ghana, as the first Black sitting president of the USA who chose to make Ghana his first visit in the continent of Africa (even though it was technically Egypt- but world leaders & others continue to divide the African continent for their personal gains/agendas by calling some nations sub-Saharan Africa without defining what the opposite of that is), about 8 months after the election of the NDC & a month before the 100th birthday ( September 21st) Dr. Kwame Nkrumah; Ghana is showing itself as a sad, backward ever, ignorant shell of its heyday as the first African country to not only gain Independence, but to be in the history books as being the nation who produced the first Black President in the world. Before Obama there was Nkrumah! President Osagyefo Dr. Kwame Nkrumah of Ghana was a man who was respected by all the leaders of the world during his time, with a welcoming seat at their table, where he was called upon to help resolve global conflicts amongst nations, to bring peace amongst enemies & to stand in leadership as the example for other nations to follow, similar to the way President Obama’s leadership is being looked to & heralded throughout the world. There has never been an African president so highly regarded & respected by world leaders as Dr. Nkrumah until Nelson Mandela- 37 years after Dr. Nkrumah became the very first Black President. Dr. Nkrumah paved the way for many who came after him locally/globally & it is a sad day in the history of Ghana when his birthday is still not a national holiday & his achievements are not heralded & celebrated in Ghana’s education system or culture outside of designated monuments & buildings. I am currently reading two books to better understand Ghana’s past high esteem, fall from grace & the times we are in now –“Handbook of Revolutionary Warfare” by Kwame Nkrumah & “Ghana Two Years of Transformation:1982-83” published by Information Services Department , Accra , Ghana. The latter looks at Ghana the first 2 years after the 1981 revolution headed by Flt.-Lt. Jerry John Rawlings, whose party & former VP, Atta Mills is currently in power as the ruling majority party & the president of Ghana. The “Handbook of Revolutionary Warfare” by Kwame Nkrumah was written in 1968 in Conakry, Guinea where Nkrumah was exiled to & became Co-president of with Sekou Toure after the coup d’état orchestrated & aided by the American CIA, while he was in Hanoi trying to work on a resolution to the Vietnam war in 1966. Much of this history is completely unknown to the average Ghanaian & even some of the so called educated ones. Dr. Nkrumah & an independent Black Star Nation was truly the example that many colonizers & capitalists in the world were afraid of & did not want to see spread throughout the continent of Africa in the formation of what would have been a powerhouse continent of the United States of Africa. This was Africa’s dream deferred which President Obama says he would like to see fulfilled for Africa by Africans, but at what cost & is the rest of the world let alone Africans truly ready to fulfill Nkrumah’s dream? If & when a nation can not even pay homage & honor the greatness of its past, how can they possibly fulfill the greatness in their potential for the future? When Ghana as a democratic governed nation along with the everyday Ghanaian can know, acknowledge, honor & celebrate the greatness of its past then we can truly fulfill & exclaim the mantra of Forward Ever, Backward Never!

I encourage & urge Ghana/Ghanaians to make September 21st a national holiday in honor of Dr. Kwame Nkrumah & in honor of what a great Black Star Nation represents! A day of national & public voluntary service & celebration of our Forward Movements as a Nation!

The Ghana Chronicles 09-Beginning the Journey from JFK 2 Accra

Let’s just say the day didn’t start off on a good foot because I had not slept at all the night before because I was overwhelmed with packing. Of course family members have to overload my luggage with stuff to give everyone back home in Ghana –many of which they can easily get in Ghana but for some reason bringing it from the US gives it more cachet or makes it somehow better. Figuring out how to pack it all without having to pay close to $300 for excess baggage, which Deltas rips off their customers for since they are the only airline with such exorbitant fees for going over 50 pounds, was no easy task. My cousin’s wonderful husband was gracious enough to drive me to the airport & surprisingly everything went smoothly at the airport, so I could just relax & await the flight.

So the journey has begun once again, back to my mama’s land, the motherland, the Black Star Nation, Ghana! This time a little wiser, a little more learned about the so called “Ghanaian mentality” & a lot more tolerant while building on the precise beautiful art of patience. In this land everyone is at their own pace with an extreme abundance of pride or “twae”, but after all what do you expect from the Black Star Nation who showed herself to be the leader of Africa 52 years ago in her independence & the call for all her brothers & sisters to join her revolutionary evolution for freedom & independence Now - for & by Africans! 52 years later the “Nkrumah like” first of Barack Obama comes to remind the world once again that Ghana/Ghanaians are the model he & the rest of the world wants to see for Africa, so you best believe that the pride is high, but we’re moving on- that is as an elder Ghanaian said to me –if we can get past some of the ignorance in behavior & thought process.

It’s happening as I write this. I am on my way to Accra on Delta, one of the worst airlines in terms of customer service, but unfortunately it’s the only airline that flies direct to Ghana from New York. Sitting next to me is a Ghanaian who did his masters & phd in the USA & decided he wanted to go back to Ghana to build on the blueprint of excellence in education, which Nkrumah had started, by building a private international school in Kumasi where excellence is not only expected from the students, but from the faculty & the infrastructure where they gather, eat, learn & excel, thru a focus on the sciences. Within a 10 year period of conceiving this idea & bringing it to fruition, Dr. Yeboah now has one of the best primary/secondary schools in Kumasi that is beautifully done to rival any day/boarding school in Ghana & abroad. I didn’t have my own private/self-contained bathroom in my room at the boarding school of the elite in the US that I was privileged enough to have gained a scholarship for, but in Today’s Ghana it’s part of the staple –Chale mek u no try- because we are coming up & the movement is being led by those of us who have been educated, lived & travelled abroad; fed up with the so called American Europe dream as we watch foreigners/foreign investors live their dreams in our homeland without much benefit to the average everyday Ghanaian. Many ex-pat Ghanaians & now even their children born & raised abroad have chosen to come back to give back to the nation that gave us our power & more vim to be able to make it anywhere with excellence as we keep the black star shining & rising-Nkrumah’s exact road & blueprint in full effect! Dr. Yeboah is on the plane with about 20 or so children from his school, who as little Pricilla AKA Serwaa ,with her innate sense of politeness that is second to none in Ghana & the sweetest of voices tells me, they were on a sponsored tour to Chicago & New York- one of the international/global educational tools that is incorporated in the curriculum of the school. Pricilla proceeds to tell me how she wanted to tell the flight attendant “Delta knows they are going to Ghana why don’t you serve us some jalof rice or something”. I laugh & shake my head knowing just how right this young lady is & recognizing that she is a powerhouse in the best ways possible & will one day perhaps be heralded amongst other great intelligent females who represent the best in country, womanhood & firsts such as Hilary Clinton, Sonia Sotomayor, Michelle Obama & Yaa Asantwaa . I am filled with so much joy & hope for Today’s Ghana as I watch the founder of the school, teachers & students interact in a way that is more family than pupils & as the African-American flight attendant sits next to the founder of the school & me hoping we can help her find a good school for a young 16 year old Ghanaian boy who she has taken to & is determined to help in Ghana. She tells us the story of how she met him at the art center on her travels to Ghana & he had confided in her his dream of becoming a doctor, even though his parents are pushing him to be a footballer because they believe he will make more money quickly so he can take care of them.

This woman has no known blood relation to this young man except for the fact that she sees Ghana as home as an African-American & has become the embodiment of the Ghanaian proverb “It takes a village to raise a child” by just choosing to stand up to do her part in being the change she would like to see in the world. She has dedicated herself to helping this young man live his dream of becoming a doctor & has decided to call on her village of friends to help out financially or with just something as simple as information to make sure he is in the right environment for learning, so that he becomes someone whose dream is realized instead of another one of many whose dreams are deferred because of lack of funding, access or that one person it takes to believe in a young person’s dream, so they can really go for it & believe that it is possible! Today’s Ghana is about Change & Forward Ever & I am delighted to have the privilege to be on this journey with a resurrected Black Star vim to build on this blueprint!

GHANA VS. NIGERIA

Being in the stadium today with Ghana & Nigeria was a frightening, uneasy feeling juxtaposed with excitement. The intensity of the people in the stands was beyond over whelming. This rivalry of the two cousin nations has been known to erupt into dangerous levels. There were a few fights, way too much bottles of water being thrown on everyone in the stands by people in the stands to showcase their excitement. I along with some people were not so amused by this display of excitement, it became really intense when plastic water bottles were being thrown on the field particularly after the Black Stars’ captain received a red card. Ghana was able to pull off a 2-1 win after much painstaking anticipation of what was going to be the outcome of the match. The celebrations in the streets were vibrant, jubilant & at times recklessly dangerous –especially when a group of young guys stopped traffic & covered the front of cars with a huge Ghanaian flag impeding the sight of drivers, while others stopped traffic with their bodies, as they threw themselves on top of cars, made make shift blockades & bonfires with tires in the streets. The jubilation was exciting & wonderful for the people of Ghana, but those that behaved in reckless behavior take the excitement out of it, when one has to fear for his/her life. The intensity & unity of the people of Ghana should be energized for more than soccer. Imagine what Ghana can be as a nation, if the people were as united, excited, and proud enough to bring about much needed social change. I have seen way more male penises involuntarily than I ever want to see in my life. The whole peeing & defecating on the street at will, is really an eyesore, a health hazard & very primitive for such a great nation. Ghana- you have come so far, but you still have so far to go! The people are hopeful that the next leader will bring about much needed social change, but I believe that it is not the job of government to change the minds, wills & ways of the people –they have to set a higher standard for themselves, but government must aid them toward this path & realization.

I received a double treat as a Ghanaian & a New Yorker –As Ghana beat Nigeria & VA’s own Plaxico Burrus snatched the superbowl right out of New England’s hands & brought it home to the great NEW YORK GIANTS!! BIG UP TO MY NEW YORK MASSIVE & ALL THOSE THAT HAVE JUST BEEN SICK OF NEW ENGLAND’S WINNING STREAK! LOL! There can’t be anything worse than going undefeated all season & then losing the game that counts the most!! NEW YORK-THIS IS WHY WE HOTTTTT!!

BLACK STAR RISING -FILM, MUSIC, FUTBOL-HISTORY!

Tomorrow is the big rivalry game between Ghana & Nigeria. Tensions are high but the energy & spirits of Ghanaian are even higher. I am having a love affair with Ghana, the type that always makes you feel like no other thru the good & the bad times. We have had days of being entrenched in Ghana’s musical culture, interviewing greats like Osibisa & Blay Ambolley , perhaps the true father of hip-hop along with the future of Ghana’s music , Simmini, Obrafour, & many more. Ghana is has a plethora of people from all over the world visiting & residing in Ghana. We sat at a local spot called "The Office" & had a chat with Hungarian muscians as the blessed us with live acoustic guitar, local instruments & the sweet voice of Sena who is born & raised in Ghana of part Hungarian decent. These types of cultural mixes are an everyday story in Ghana & part of what makes it dynamic & fantastic.

Ghana is really at the heights of showcasing & recognizing its historical roots with the influx, of reggae, hip-hop, spoken, word, jazz, R & B, dance & film. We were on the set of an upcoming film entitled “Playing Games”, created by the same production company who got their fame from the “Beyonce “ films starring Nadia Buari. The demand is definitely there for these films, plus it’s giving Nigeria’s Nollywood a run for their money with superior quality of films & actors. Nigeria is right next door & is the 3rd largest hub of film outside of Hollywood & Bollywood. It seems like Gollywood is on the rise cranking out hundreds of films a month, unfortunately they are straight to video because Ghana’s theaters have been neglected. As a child growing up in Ghana it was such a treat to go to the theater where we would mostly watch Bollywood movies, now that Ghana is having its new renaissance in film and all of its art forms let’s hope the theaters will soon be open for the business of films again plus much more.

GHANA-HOME OF BLACK STARS & BLACK QUEENS

GHANA
A PLACE WHERE THE NATIONAL TEAMS ARE NAMED BLACK STARS & BLACK QUEENS- WHO ARE WE TO NOT BE THE EPITOME OF ALL THAT REPRESENTS BY BEING JUST THAT!

FREEDOM OF SPEECH & PROSTITUTION IN GHANA!

FREEDOM OF SPEECH & PARTICULARLY FREEDOM OF THE PRESS IS DEFINITELY IN FULL EFFECT IN GHANA! IF THESE PRESENTERS/JOURNALISTS WERE IN THE USA –THE FCC WOULD BE EXHAUSTED WITH FINES!

IT SEEMS LIKE THE RADIO STATIONS & NEWSPAPER JOURNALISTS ARE NOT AFRAID TO SPEAK OF THE REAL ISSUES IN THIS COUNTRY & CRITICIZE IT. THE TOPIC OF PROSTITUTION SEEMS TO BE ONE OF THE FAVORITE TOPICS TO SPEAK ON. PROSTITUTION MIGHT AS WELL BE LEGALIZED & CONTROLLED FOR THE SAKE OF PUBLIC HEALTH. EVEN IN THE TRAGICALLY DISASTROUS ERA OF H.I.V & A.I.D.S, PROSTITUTION IS VERY MUCH A BOOMING INDUSTRY IN GHANA! LET’S BE FRANK –IT’S PROBABLY ONE OF THE MOST BOOMING INDUSTRIES NOT ONLY IN GHANA, BUT IN THE WORLD.

IT ANGERS MY HEART TO SEE HOW MANY EUROPEAN MEN BASICALLY PREY ON THE DESPERATION, POVERTY, LACK OF EDUCATION & SOMETIMES JUST THE SHEER GREED & WANT OF MATERIALISM OF SO MANY YOUNG WOMEN HERE, JUST FOR THE SAKE OF SATIATING THEIR EGOS, FANTASIES & PERVERSIONS. I ABSOLUTELY HAVE VERY LITTLE SYMPATHY FOR THOSE SAME MEN WHO END UP WITH SAVVY GANGSTA PROSTITUTES WHO BASICALLY TAKE ALL THEIR MONEY & LEAVE THEM IN UNEXPECTED COMPROMISING POSITIONS, AS IT CONTINUES TO BE REPORTED. WHAT PRICE CAN ONE PUT ON THE WORTH OF ANOTHER HUMAN BEING? I THOUGHT WE HAD ALREADY GOTTEN PAST THAT PART OF OUR HISTORY BY VOWING- FORWARD EVER BACKWARD NEVER LONG AFTER THE THE SLAVE TRADE!

IT IS DEFINITELY NOT ONLY EUROPEAN MALES UTILIZING THESE VERY AVAILABLE SERVICES. AFRICANS, AMERICANS, LEBANESE, CHINESE, INDIANS AND THE MANY OTHER NATIONS OF PEOPLE WHO FLOCK TO THESE DOORS ARE MORE THAN HAPPY TO HAVE OWNERSHIP & A TASTE FOR A PRICE. I HAVE PERSONALLY WITNESSED A GROUP OF EUROPEAN MEN TALKING ABOUT THE LOCATIONS FOR THESE SERVICES IN THE SAME MANNER AS DISCUSSING WHICH RESTAURANT THEY SHOULD GO TO ON ANY GIVEN NIGHT. AS WE WERE FILMING AN ARTIST & THE NAMIBIAN SOCCER PLAYERS ON THE BEACH, A GROUP OF ARAB & EUROPEAN MEN QUICKLY BECAME VERY AGGRESSIVE ABOUT NOT WANTING TO BE CAUGHT IN OUR SHOTS, AS I AM SURE THEY DID NOT WANT ANYONE KNOWING WHAT HONORABLE DEEDS THEY WERE DOING IN GHANA!

I WAS LISTENING TO THE RADIO TODAY & HEARD, WHAT IS KNOWN HERE AS A PRESENTER (RADIO PERSONALITY), BASICALLY TALK FOR ABOUT 30 MINUTES ABOUT HOW THE PROSTITUTION BUSINESS WAS BOOMING AFTER NIGERIA’S WIN YESTERDAY, IN THE AFRICAN CUP OF NATIONS! HE WENT AS FAR AS TO GET ONE OF THE PROSTITUTES ON THE PHONE TO TALK ABOUT JUST HOW MUCH BUSINESS WAS BOOMING. SHE TALKED OF HOW SHE HAD ABOUT 10 INDIVIDUAL CUSTOMERS IN ONE NIGHT, HOW SHE HAD MANY OF THE FOOTBALLERS AS HER CUSTOMERS, WHILE TELLING THE PRESENTER THAT SHE COULD SERVICE HIM TOO. THERE IS NO ALLEGEDLY'S NECESSARY JUST RAW TALK WITH A LOT OF HUMOR SO WE CAN SWALLOW THE THE OBVIOUS BITTER PILL THAT SUSTAINS US. THE PRESENTER EVEN WENT AS FAR AS SAYING THAT HE COULD HURT HER WITH HIS LARGE PENIS. IT WAS BASICALLY A” HOWARD STERN” STYLE RADIO SHOW IN GHANA. REALITY WITH A DOSE OF SICK HUMOR !

There isn't any real sense of the malaciousness in it's delivery because this is a country of real & deep politness amongst its generations. The only real maliciousness is that we can not recognize our own power to motivate & make change & remain melancholy in recognizing that we are laughing at our inability to think & act beyond the basic level in our helplessnes!!

RADIO PRESENTERS ON PEACE FM TACKLED THE CHILD PROSTITUTION CRISIS-WHICH THEY VIEWED AS EXTREMELY UNACCEPTABLE & DID AN INVESTIGATION ON IT, TO BRING IT OUT TO THE OPEN & HOPEFULLY PROSECUTE THOSE THAT ENGAGE IN IT. I AGREED WITH THEM THAT WHATEVER TWO CONSENTING ADULTS DO WITH ONE ANOTHER, IT IS UP TO THEM TO FACE THE REWARDS & CONSEQUENCES OF THOSE ADULT DECISIONS, BUT WHEN IT COMES TO MINORS, THERE SHOULD BE AN ABSOLUTE NO TOLERANCE POLICY. IT IS UP TO THE PEOPLE TOGETHER WITH GOVERNMENT TO DEMAND & ENFORCE THE LAWS OF PROTECTING ITS PEOPLE!

THERE IS A BEAUTIFUL TWENTY SOMETHING SISTER, WHOM I HAVE SEEN SEVERAL TIMES WITH A EUROPEAN MAN THAT LOOKS OLD ENOUGH TO BE HER GRANDFATHER OR GREAT GRANDFATHER. YOU CAN SEE HER MISERY & THE EMBARRASSMENT IN HER EYES, AS SHE WATCHES THE EYES ON HER –ALL KNOWING THAT SHE IS, A BOUGHT FOR THE NIGHT, OR KEPT FOR THE MEANTIMES & IN BETWEEN TIMES WOMAN.

YOU NEVER KNOW A PERSON’S STORY OF WHY & HOW –SO I TRY NOT TO JUDGE, BUT PRAY FOR HER SAFETY & HOPE THAT SHE WILL FIND A BETTER LIFE. ONE THAT SHE CAN BE TRULY PROUD OF & RAISE HER HEAD UP HIGH, AS A BLACK QUEEN IN GHANA!
THERE IS A HUGE SIGN, AS YOU ARRIVE IN GHANA AT CUSTOMS, TELLING PEDOPHILES & THOSE COMING TO GHANA TO ENGAGE IN DEVIANT SEXUAL BEHAVIOR, TO RETURN TO WHERE THEY CAME FROM BECAUSE THEY ARE NOT WELCOMED IN GHANA. I HAVE NEVER SEEN SUCH A SIGN IN AN AIRPORT AT CUSTOMS IN ALL MY YEARS OF TRAVEL. IS THIS BECAUSE IT IS A KNOWN PROBLEM THAT GETS LOOKED OVER AFTER YOU ARE PAST CUSTOMS? IT’S LIKE THE SURGEON GENERAL’S WARNING ON A PACK OF CIGARETTES –WE WILL TELL YOU IT WILL KILL YOU, BUT WE WILL STILL ALLOW YOU TO INDULGE IN IT & NOT REALLY REGULATE THE SOURCE OF WHAT CAN KILL YOU, PLUS MAKE IT EASILY AVAILABLE TO YOU.

THERE IS SO MUCH BEAUTY JUXTAPOSED WITH HARSH REALITY IN GHANA. I COULDN’T UNDERSTAND HOW ISSUES SUCH AS THESE ARE CONSTANTLY BEING EXPOSED & TALKED ABOUT THRU THE POWER OF THE LOCAL MEDIA, BUT WHEN IT COMES TO ACTUAL REAL GOVERNANCE -IT GETS IGNORED. I REALIZED THAT THERE ARE MANY IN GHANA, WHO JUST LOVE THE IDEA OF HAVING POWER, HAVING A SAY, FEELING IMPORTANT, BEING FLAMBOYANT, BUT WHEN IT COMES DOWN TO REALLY DELIVER ON THE TALK –YOU QUICKLY REALIZE THAT IT IS JUST TALK!

THE CLASSISM IN GHANA IS VERY TRANSPARENT. YOU CAN CLEARLY SEE THE BREAKDOWN IN NEIGHBORHOODS OF THE HAVES & THE HAVE NOTS .THE HAVES DEFINITELY PREY ON, USE & FLAUNT THEIR HAVES FOR THE HAVE NOTS, WHO WORK FOR THEM OR DO WHATEVER IT TAKES TO TO WORK FOR THEM, WORSHIP & FANTASIZE ABOUT ONE DAY BEING AMONGST THEM !

THE MAJOR DIFFERENCE I SEE WHEN I COMPARE THIS TO THE UNITED STATES IS THAT THERE IS CLEARLY A MIDDLE CLASS THAT IS THRIVING & BRINGING SOME BALANCE BETWEEN THE POOR & OVERTLY WEALTHY. GHANA SEEMS TO BE FILLED WITH DREAMERS- HOPING, WISHING, & FANTASIZING ABOUT WHAT CAN BE , BUT UNFORTUNATELY THE FANTASY OF THEIR DREAMS CONSUMES THEM & KEEPS THEM FROM PUTTING IN THE REAL LIFE WORK NEEDED TO ACHIEVE THEIR DREAMS BY RESPECTING, APPRECIATING, HONORING, AND UTILIZING FOR THEMSELVES , WHAT IS RIGHT AT THEIR OWN DOORSTEPS!

RADIO STATIONS ARE CONSTANTLY FILLED WITH LOVE SONGS WITH PEOPLE CONSTANTLY FOCUSED ON THEIR EMOTIONS & FANTASIES, LIVING A TYPE OF MELANCHOLY EXISTENCE RATHER THAN THE REALITY OF CIRCUMSTANCES AND SETTING & ACHIEVING GOALS!

EVEN BLACK STARS & BLACK QUEENS MUST PUT IN THE WORK & NOT LEAVE ALL IN GOD’S HANDS!

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!

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!