A stellar gathering of top-brass poets and literary artistes is happening in Ghana, from the 17th – 22nd May, 2016, to celebrate the long-awaited Pentasi ‘B’ Festival of visual poetry, culture and creative arts.
The world-acclaimed friendship poetry festival features 25 award-winning, top caliber international poets, who will be joined by Special Guests of Honour; Hon. Abla Dzifa Gomashie (Deputy Minister of Tourism, Culture and Creative Arts), Hon. Dr. Abdul-Rashid Hassan Pelpuo (Minister of State at the Presidency), hundreds of home-grown poets and lovers of the art genre.
In Ghana as of Tuesday May 17 are: father of Visual poetry Dr. Penpen Bugtong Takipsilim (Phillipines), George Onsy (Egypt), Ibrahim Honjo (Russia), Luz Maria Lopez (Puerto Rico), Armeli Quezon (USA), Prof. Rajendra Padhi (India), Dr. Santosh Bakaya (India), Monsif Beroual (Morrocco), Kolade Olanrewaju Freedom (Nigeria), Timileyin Gabriel (Nigeria), and Prof. Mohammed Shanazar (Pakistan) respectively.
The 2013 Ghanaian Pentasian and Principal Host of the event, Benjamin Tetteh Oku said “this global celebration is the first of its kind on the soil of Africa and will impact the need for peace before, during and after election 2016, and will balance the poetry equation in Ghana”.
The week-long event is themed: Sustenance of our Peace; The Role of The Arts’. Activities earmarked for the week-long celebration include: courtesy calls on the Sector Ministry, selected Palaces and Media houses, story-telling sessions at Osekan Beach in Accra, poetry engagements with students and visits to tourist sites.
The main event will however, be held on Saturday 21st May, with a unique celebration featuring splendid poetry performances laced with different genres of music and dance, a colourful exhibition of Ghanaian products, and a special dinner and awards ceremony to crown it all on Sunday May 22nd at the Dubois Center near the American Embassy in Accra.
Gifted and renowned Ghanaian poets billed to perform at the festival are Radio and TV personality Johnnie Hughes, Nana Asaase, Kwaku Sonny, Nii Ayi Solomon, Oswald Okaikoi Okaitei, Nene Tetteh Adusu, Koo Kumi Dubois, Efo Sela Kodjo Adjei and Don Aero and many others.
The last event was held in Manila, Philippines and the next event will be in Hollywood. Pentasi B Poetry Festival is open to the general and is free.