The late American singer, actor, and civil rights activist Harry Belafonte, has been honoured by the Diaspora African Forum (DAF) with the inscription of his name onto the iconic Sankofa Wall.

As reported by citinewsroom.com, the ceremony, held at the DAF Embassy in Cantonment, Accra, on August 26, 2024, was attended by dignitaries including Gina Belafonte, the daughter of the beloved icon, and AMB Dr. Erieka Bennett, the Founder and Head of Mission of the Diaspora African Forum (DAF).

Speaking at the event, Gina Belafonte expressed her gratitude for the honour bestowed upon her father, stating that having his name inscribed on the Sankofa Wall is a fitting tribute to his legacy.

Harry Belafonte’s name joins a prestigious list of individuals who have significantly contributed to the African diaspora and the continent.

Born Harold George Bellanfanti Jr. on March 1, 1927, Belafonte popularised calypso music with international audiences in the 1950s and 1960s.

His breakthrough album, Calypso (1956), was the first million-selling LP by a single artiste.

He was best known for his recordings of “Day-O (The Banana Boat Song)”, “Jump in the Line (Shake, Senora)”, “Jamaica Farewell”, and “Mary’s Boy Child”.

Belafonte recorded and performed in many genres, including blues, folk, gospel, show tunes, and American standards.

He also starred in films such as Carmen Jones (1954), Island in the Sun (1957), Odds Against Tomorrow (1959), Buck and the Preacher (1972), and Uptown Saturday Night (1974). His final feature film appearance was in Spike Lee’s BlacKkKlansman (2018).

Before his passing on April 25, 2023, Harry Belafonte had an estimated net worth of 30 million dollars, largely attributed to his success in the music and movie industries.

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