PANAFEST FESTIVAL ARRIVES IN STYLE

By: Ryan Millward

The 2011 Panafest festival got underway in Cape Coast as dancers, musicians, chiefs and special guests all got involved in the celebrations on show.

Victoria Square on July 25th was the host for the day as over 600 people witnessed the launch of festival that aims to "Re-unite the African family". The sun baked down upon the square as rows of colourful tents lined the borders of the area with a huge open space in the middle for all the performers to revel in; there was dancers in seas of masks, musicians giving traditional Ghanaian performances, men on huge, steep stilts and special guests being paraded as the banging of drums whirled out across the square.

Some traditional leaders in Ghana

Part of the square was for all the special guests to step up to the podium to pronounce their statements on the launch of the 2011 festival. Rabbi Kohain Nathanyah Halevi stepped up first to express: "I am honored to perform this duty of speaking to you today." He continued: "Let our presence today let us open the doors for the African family to be reunited, let's embrace each other spirituality, let's love each other." The strong words were met with a rapture of cheers and claps as the atmosphere of the festival integrated itself exponentially. Next up was the Minister of Chieftaincy and Culture, the Hon. Alexander Asum Ahensan. He arose to the microphone with hundreds of people watching and expressed: "On behalf of the Panafest festival I would like to thank everyone who contributed to keep the foundations in tact." He also set his sights to the future and added: "We start organising the 2012 festival in August so we have a massive and exciting festival, we have the support and institutions that can make it happen."

It certainly promises to be a big one but it's hard to focus on next year when the celebrations for this year's festival are taking place in grand style before the Minister's eyes. During an enterlude groups of dancers and acrobats perform a energetic dance routine that sees three men balance on each others heads, dancers drape each other in flags while people with skipping ropes skip whilst doing a variety of moves. The music, once again, is ever loud with drums and chanting reigning out across the square. After the performance more speakers take to the podium as the climax of the launch sees the Vice President of Ghana, John Dramani Mahama, declare his statements on the launch of the 2011 festival. He started by saying: "I am delighted to be here with you today as we open Panafest festival." "I am happy to be part of this ceremony to remember our brothers and sisters who were separated by evil doings in human history." The Vice President went on to say; "The African race has been witness to some of the most gruesome happenings but yet, we survive. It's time to turn the door of no return at the slave castle to a door of return, a door of rebirth."

Vice President  John Dramani Mahama

The Vice President words were met again with cheers and claps from the people lining Victoria Square. He went on to promise that the festival remain a crucial part of the cultural calender and will keep being supported by the government. As John Dramani Mahama's words came to a close, it was clear that the festival was well and truly underway. The day had been a success and countless people had engaged with the fun and celebrations that were offered by the organisers.The 2011 Panafest festival had begun - the door of no return, was well and truly open for all the African family to return.

HIGH COST OF AIRLINE FARES THREAT TO PANAFEST

By: Ryan Millward

As the upcoming Panafest festival aims to 're-unite the African family from home and abroad', many people of African heritage overseas may not have the money to visit due to a steep increase in airline costs.

The fact that some flights cost well into the  thousands  (US $) will mean that the very message of the festival will be undermined by big corporate flight companies. The purpose of the festival is to celebrate and bring together the African family that has been dispersed around the world due to the slave trades of past ages as well as increased migration.

Rabbi Kohain Halevi

In the official launch of the festival at Elmina on July 13th, the Executive Secretary of the Panafest Foundation told of how the festival in Ghana may be hindered by travel costs. Rabbi Kohain Halevi said: "Increased airfares mean people abroad can't reach here" He added: "Some flights from the US will cost in excess of $2500 to $2800 for an economy seat". With the global world already facing tough times due to various recessions in economies, the cost of these flights will only add to the money worries of would be festival goers.

In the launch there was a gasp of shock when the Rabbi Kohain Halevi read out the figures for flight costs; it certainly is hard to ignore that the reason why there is large groups of people with African heritage abroad is inescapably down to the slave trade. The ambassadors of the Panafest festival will feel that the western countries who took them out of the African continent are now keeping them there as many who look to visit their African heritage will be hindered by the shocking air costs.

Panafest festival has existed in Ghana since 1992 and each year it aims to celebrate, remember and fight challenges of African culture whilst bringing together Africans from around the world; it aims to bring back the integral connections of all Africans that, in the words of the chairman of the meeting Ben Ohene-Areh, have been victims of 'forced transportation'. The chairman added: "It's time now for the African family to come together - from home and abroad. There are millions of African sheep abroad." He continued: "We are here to champion the development of the black man here and on the other sides of the Atlantic."

Some members of the LOC

This is a bold statement that is representative of all the members, associates, contributors and supporters of the Panafest Festival who are quite clearly intently passionate and committed about the message that the festival displays. It was with a sense of anger hidden under an optimistic conviction that Rabbi Kohain Halevi called out for the airlines to get on board instead of exploiting African travellers looking to return to their land of origin.

All in all the high costs that these corporate western companies put on air costs will only give a stark reminder of the oppression of African people by the western world. It really is time that these issues were recognised and the airline companies reacted to this barrier that threatens to stop and hinder the very purpose of the Panafest Festival.

The Panafest festival will start it's first programme on Friday, 22nd July and will continue for ten days where it will finish on August 1st for Emancipation Day. More information is available at www.panafestghana.org