PANAFEST& EMANCIPATION 2011 LAUNCHED



By Saul Sebag-Montefiore

 

The world famous PANAFEST festival and Emancipation Day was officially launched in Elmina  by the Deputy Minister of Tourism, Hon. James Agyenim-Boateng.

The chairperson of the event, Osabarima Kwesi Atta II, declared that PANAFEST 2011 is going to be an opportunity to reflect on the history of the festival and decide how best to move forward and develop this international celebration of being African.

Acultural performance

In the mid-1980s PANAFEST was mooted by the late Efua Sutherland as, ‘a cultural vehicle for bringing Africans on the continent in the Diaspora together around the issues raised by slavery which remain suppressed.’ PANAFEST is a cultural event dedicated to the enhancement of the ideals of Pan-Africanism and the development of the African continent. It is an opportunity for Africans and people of African descent to return to their ancestral homeland and come together and establish the truth about the history of Africa. It also provides a forum to promote unity between Africans and affirm the common heritage of African people throughout the world. The festival is also a major political event as it ensures that there is a thorough annual review of Africa’s development and the objectives, strategies and policies are openly scrutinised and consensus for the formulation and implementation of potential alternative options for development can be organised.

The official opening of PANAFEST will be on 25^th July and the smiling Executive Secretary of the PANAFEST Foundation, Rabbi Kohain Halevi, promised, ‘a taste of the old PANAFEST’ with chiefs from all 10 regions of Ghana formerly invited. This will immediately add an extra dimension of grandeur to year’s festival with royalty, pomp, tradition and power on display. On the 26^th July there will be an official visit to Elmina castle for historic remembrance of slavery. On the 27^th and 28^th a ‘moving emancipation day forward’ conference will be held following by a river crossing. The 31^st will be a traditional day where renaming ceremonies and repeating marriage vows will occur before a traditional walk to Cape Coast castle.





A major subject that was risen by every speaker at the launch was their hope that this years PANAFEST will again reunite the displaced African family. Nana Kwesi Atta II stated, ‘One day a Sheppard took his flock to a field to graze, he left them there and after they had finished grazing he counted his flock. It was then that he realized that one was missing.  He searched far and wide but it was nowhere to be found. This is like our story and now I invite our missing brothers and sisters spread across the world to reunite with us in the homeland. They are part of us.’ Nana Kwesi Atta II then went on to declare his desire that talented Africans will return and stay in the land that they belong and act as ‘agents of change’ that will aid African growth. In the past, major African-American stars such as Stevie Wonder and Public Enemy have supported the festival by attending and making live performances as they wish to promote the festival and reconnect with their roots.





Rabbi Kohain Halevi

Rabbi Kohain Halevi announced that the theme of the 2011 festival is ‘challenges and prospects’. This is a change from past festivals as the organisers seek to encourage attendees to reflect ‘soberly on past years’ and ‘look upon PANAFEST as an institution’ in the build up to next years special anniversary of PANAFEST in Ghana. There have been some other changes made to this year’s festivities as the women’s day and youth forum will not be carried out. Rabbi Halevi explained, ‘They will not be carried out bust discussions will take place on how to enhance these parts of the festival. This is a review year for the future.’ For the same reason the formal Homecoming to Elmina event where the chiefs sail from Cape Coast to Elmina has also been left out of the schedule for this years festivities – much to the disappointment and concern of many in Elmina. A message was also sent out to potential sponsors as Rabbi Halevi stated PANAFEST’s intention of finding ‘permanent partnerships’ for the long term in the presence of a representative from rLG Communications who have decided to form an agreement with the PANAFEST Foundation.

Dr. Abdallah

The Chairman of the PANAFEST organization, Dr. Abdallah, criticized the airway industry and accused them of exploiting this year’s PANAFEST for their own gain at the expense of foreign Africans who want to return to take part in the proceedings. He stated, ‘the airway industry has pulled the rock from under our feet’. The airline prices for an economy seat from the US to Ghana has gone up to $2,500 and there is much concern from the PANAFEST Foundation that this may prevent Africans from being able to make the pilgrimage back to their original homeland. Another concern that was expressed is the decline in patronage of the festival that has left the organizers’ in desperate need of sponsorship and funds to maintain the quality and develop the PANAFEST festival further.

 

James Agyenim-Boateng

The Deputy Minister for Tourism, Hon. James Agyenim-Boateng, official launched the PANAFEST festival. Mr Agyenim-Boateng made a point of countering accusations that the Government is not behind the festival by emphasizing the Government’s ‘upmost commitment’ to PANAFEST and Emancipation day. He then went on to state his wish that the ‘events [PANAFEST and Emancipation day] complement each other rather than compete.’ The issue of funding came up again as Agyenim called to the business community and sponsors to help fund the event as he stated, ‘there are very limited resources and funds meaning sponsorship is vital to the success of the event.’

There is a real desire to increase the size of this event in order to increase its international reputation and make it the place where all Africans from around the globe congregate to annually celebrate and reconnect with their roots. Therefore in the words of the Minister for Tourism, ‘make this event very successful and a springboard to the future.’