The historical relationship between Ghana and Black America is one of shared struggle, cultural exchange, and mutual inspiration. From the Civil Rights era to modern-day initiatives like the Year of Return, Ghana has been a beacon for African Americans seeking liberation, reconnection, and homecoming.
Ghana's Independence and Pan-African Vision
When Ghana gained independence in 1957, it became a symbol of African liberation. On 6 March 1957, the Gold Coast, renamed Ghana, became the first colony in the Sub-Saharan region of Africa to gain its independence from European colonial rule under the leadership of its first president, Kwame Nkrumah.
President Kwame Nkrumah, a strong advocate of Pan-Africanism, invited African Americans to contribute to Ghana’s development. Nkrumah had studied at Lincoln University, an HBCU in Pennsylvania, where he was influenced by W.E.B. Du Bois and Marcus Garvey.
Ghana's independence had an important impact on African-American views of Africa. This is because, "[for] perhaps the first time, Africa surpassed America in terms of not only what it seemed to represent symbolically, but also in terms of its objective reality. Ghana served as a symbol of inspiration to people of African descent, that Africa was not the barbaric land that it was made out to be.
In July 1960, Ghana hosted the Conference of Women of Africa and African Descent (CWAAD) in Accra.
Read also: Experience Fad's Fine African Cuisine
In the mid-1950s, there began a new era in which African Americans began to migrate to Ghana as a result of its independence. African Americans, especially civil rights activists such as W. E. B. Du Bois and Julian Bond, went to Ghana to aid the country's development and escape the racism of the United States. Kwame Nkrumah constantly tried to keep Ghana independent from the influences of the West and the Soviet Union, and Black expatriates, especially radicals, saw this as an opportunity to express their views and not have to deal with the criticism they faced in America.
Black American activists who went to Ghana to "[engage] with Pan-Africanist and socialist thought under the tutelage of Ghana's President Kwame Nkrumah and African diasporan political exiles" typically ended up involved with Ghanaian politics, whether indirectly or actively. Some like Maya Angelou became close with Ghanaian officials and even Nkrumah himself, allowing them to express influence over political situations. They used their views to criticize and praise the Ghanaian government for its actions and influence how the officials governed Ghana.
Challenges and Tensions
As Black American expatriates began to be involved in Ghana's government, non-American members of Ghana's government began to become suspicious of Nkrumah's ideals. They criticized the high governmental positions that foreigners were given upon coming to Ghana. This suspicion caused a lot of tension between the Ghanaians in the government and the African Americans in the government. The suspicion was so great that there was an assassination attempt on Nkrumah in 1962.
Cultural and Intellectual Exchange
Music has always been a powerful bridge between Ghana and Black America. African American writers found inspiration and collaboration in Ghana. Many were intellectuals, activists, and artists drawn to Ghana’s Pan-African vision.
The history of African Americans in Ghana goes back to individuals such as American civil rights activist and writer W. E. B. Du Bois (1868-1963), who settled in Ghana in the last years of his life and is buried in the capital, Accra.
Read also: The Story Behind Cachapas
Ghana to preserve legacy of W.E.B. Du Bois
Ghana has given African Americans a sense of belonging. Surrounded by Africans, African Americans felt that they could be reunited with long-lost relatives in their homeland. However, some argue that these perceptions of Africa by African Americans were detrimental to African American experiences in Ghana.
According to Derek Catsam, "the African American image of Africa has historically been no less warped [than the White American image] but has been characterized by romanticism, fetishism, and nostalgia. While this view has tended to be more charitable toward Africa than the more generalized American view, it is not necessarily less problematic." He argues that while African-American views of Africa were more positive than the general American view, they, similar to the general American view, differed greatly from the African reality. This difference heavily affected African Americans' experiences in Ghana and their views of it following their migration to the country.
Ghana further allowed for hope to be brought to African Americans who chose to remain in the United States. In his sermon on the Exodus in 1957, Martin Luther King Jr. highlighted that the way to gain equality could be achieved, as the demonstration that Ghana had given them hope.
Black History Month Celebrations
Black History Month was celebrated to showcase the diversity of the African American experience. It highlighted the reality that although African Americans have a unique place in history, there is commonality between and among all persons residing in Ghana and that through recognition, acceptance and discourse, the lives of all are enhanced. This year’s celebration was spread throughout the month of February with educative and engaging activities to target generally the youth, elderly, college students, Americans, African-Americans, Ghanaians and everyone from all walks of life.
The topic for the Youth Program’s discussion was “Building Bridges - Celebrating our Common History.” Students sat in groups to discuss how they perceived Americans and the role they play in Ghanaian and world politics. The discussion then segued into commentary on W.E.B Du Bois, Kwame Nkrumah and the true meaning and relevance of Pan Africanism.
Read also: Techniques of African Jewellery
The official launch panel discussion served as the primary academic component of this year’s BHM events. Panelists included professors from the University of Ghana, Legon, scholars and lecturers from Webster University, Fulbright Scholars and numerous African American entrepreneurs who have settled in Ghana.
Traditional African American Church Service
Traditional African American Church Service was held at the W.E.B. Du Bois Centre. The service was led by Pastor Kearney an African American missionary in Ghana. TAACS was a program organised as one of the activities of the Black History Month.
Movie Screenings and Cultural Events
The movie “The Queen of Katwe” was selected for this program because of the film’s uplifting message of hope and perseverance. AAAG believed this theme would resonate with young Ghanaian students, as the movie tells the true story of a young school-age girl from an impoverished background who, despite the odds, becomes a champion chess player in her native Uganda, travels internationally to compete in tournaments and ultimately lifts herself and her family from a life of poverty.This event was held at B.A.S.I.C.S. International, an NGO in Chorkor, Accra.
The movie “The Queen of Katwe” was selected again for this program. This event was held at Ako Adjei Park in Osu, Accra.
This event showcased the musical and spoken word talents of local and international artists and provided a venue to explore cultural connections. Highlights included poetry reading by Oswald Okaitei, 2016 Poet of the Year, and a vibrant performance by renowned poet and playwright, Professor Kofi Anyidoho. The Spoken Word Concert took place at the W.E.B.
The event was held at the Ghana College of Physicians and Surgeons Hall. The concert was a collaborative effort between African American, Ghanaian musicians, featured choral ensembles by African Americans (including a Fulbright Scholar), orchestral ensemble by the esteemed Afro Maestros, performances by B.A.S.I.C.S. Children’s ensemble, and dance by Cynthia Strong and narration by local artists. AAAG’s long-standing member, Sherrie Thompson produced the event.
The Year of Return and Beyond
As journalist Lydia Polgreen reported in 2005 in The New York Times, the fact that Ghanaian slave exports to the Americas were so important between the 16th and 19th centuries has made Ghana currently try to attract the descendants of enslaved Africans from the Americas to return to settle there and make the country their new home - although not all are of Ghanaian descent. As reported by Valerie Papaya Mann, president of the African American Association of Ghana, thousands of African Americans now live in Ghana for at least part of the year.
Fourteen years later, African-American author Jacqueline Woodson wrote, again in The New York Times, about her first visit to Ghana, where she found "a massive marketing campaign called 'Year of Return'". Woodson said that she wanted to visit Ghana again and again, but not to live there year-round, knowing she is not African, but African-American.
The Year of Return, Ghana 2019 is an initiative of the government of Ghana that is intended to encourage African diasporans to come to Africa (specifically Ghana) to settle and invest in the continent. It was formally launched by President Nana Akufo-Addo in September 2018 in Washington, D.C. as a program for Africans in the diaspora to unite with Africans.
The biannual Pan African Historical Theatre Project now known as Panafest has welcomed African Americans and others in the African Diaspora to Ghana since 1992 and was scheduled as a part of the Year of Return events in Ghana in 2019. The festival takes place in Accra, and among other locations, Cape Coast. The idea of this festival is to promote and enhance unity, Pan-Africanism, and the development of the continent of Africa itself. Activities that occur at this festival are performances and work in the areas of theatre, drama, music, and poetry, among other things.
Modern Challenges
In the 21st century, new African-American arrivals, being richer, are pricing out the locals. A private real estate development called Sanbra City (meaning Return City) is a gated, eco-friendly community, with houses starting at $180,000 American dollars, far out of the price range of locals, causing criticism.
| Event/Initiative | Description | Significance |
|---|---|---|
| Ghana's Independence (1957) | Ghana became the first sub-Saharan African nation to gain independence. | Symbol of liberation and inspiration for African Americans. |
| Kwame Nkrumah's Invitation | President Nkrumah invited African Americans to contribute to Ghana's development. | Fostered Pan-Africanism and provided opportunities for African Americans. |
| Black History Month Celebrations | Celebrations to showcase the diversity of the African American experience. | Highlighted the commonality between all persons residing in Ghana. |
| The Year of Return (2019) | Ghanaian government initiative to encourage African diasporans to visit and invest in Ghana. | Aimed to unite Africans in the diaspora with Africans on the continent. |
