Kwesi Botchwey, Ali Mazrui, Pat Thomas and Hedzoleh Soundz Headline Sacramento’s Ghana @ 50 Celebrations!

The Ghanaian Associations of Sacramento and Stockton in California celebrated Ghana’s 50th Independence Anniversary by remembering the struggles fought in the past, exploring our hopes for Ghana’s future and enjoying our rich entertainment heritage. The weekend long event included a well attended symposium followed the next evening by a gala kente ball.

The accomplishment of Osagyefo Dr. Kwame Nkrumah’s prophetic statement that “the Independence of Ghana is meaningless unless it is linked with the total liberation of Africa” served as the theme for a major symposium held at the California State University in Sacramento, California. The distinguished list of panelists included former Ghanaian minister of finance and current Tufts University professor Dr. Kwesi Botchwey, world-renowned academic and political writer on African and Islamic studies Dr. Ali A. Mazrui, the IMF’s Dr. Robin Kibuki from Uganda, Pan African lawyer Greyland Williams, California State University professor, Dr. Patrick Cannon, and Dr. Tetteh Kofi from San Francisco State University. The symposium was moderated by Dr. Kofi Akwaabi Ameyaw of California State University, Stanislaus.
The celebration was crowned by a sold out kente ball with over 400 guests and friends of the Ghanaian Association of Sacramento and the Ghana Association of Stockton. The event began with a procession of Ghanaian children dressed in kente finery, escorting our honored guests to their seats and bearing the Ghana flag. The evening was flavored with authentic ‘old time’ highlife music and energetic cultural dance performances by Kucheza Ngoza II Dance Co who put the audience in a party mood.
It was a grand style with the smooth sounds of the internationally acclaimed, U.S. based Ghanaian band Hedzoleh Soundz with special musical guest Ghanaian musical icon Pat Thomas on Saturday, March 3, in Sacramento, California, USA.
Dr. Kwesi Botchwey delivered a stirring speech about the significance of Ghana's 50th Anniversary and the role of women in Ghana's future development. Dr. Botchwey was followed on stage by Dr. Ali Mazrui who took the crowd on an incredible journey from when he first met Kwame Nkrumah as a student in the United States through the Gold Coast to modern day Ghana. Former California State Secretary for Health and Human Services, Grantland Johnson, delivered the keynote address.[brief summary of what he said]
The evening was not only about speeches, a poignant roll call of all of Africa's Independent nations kept the crowd cheering as each nation’s flag was projected onto a screen. The memorable evening was wrapped up by a three-hour shake your bones till you drop affair featuring music by Hedzoleh Sounds. Both old and young Ghanaians, first and second generation Ghanaian Americans and their guests filled the dance floor and as we say, "danced the night away." The celebration, however, continues as the Association launches into the summer with a grand picnic at Williams Land Park in Sacramento. Other exciting activities are in the works for the rest of the year so stay tuned!
Visit Ghanaian Association of Sacramento at http://www.gascal.org for more information on upcoming events.