Accra, Jan. 31, - The United
States (US) Embassy, in collaboration with the African American Association of
Ghana (AAAG), would commemorate the 150th Anniversary of Dr W.E.B. Du Bois as
part of the celebration of the Black History Month.
The anniversary would focus on
the legacy and global impact of the noted American civil rights activist and
Pan-Africanist.
A statement from the US Embassy
in Ghana and copied to the Ghana News Agency on Wednesday said Dr Du Bois was
buried in Accra after having spent the latter part of his life in Ghana.
It said his former home is now
the W.E.B. Du Bois Memorial Centre for Pan-African Culture, which would serve
as the venue for most of the Black History Month programmes, some of the
activities would, however, be held in Cape Coast.
The commemoration is held
annually in February in the US, Canada, and other countries to highlight
historical figures and events in the African Diaspora.
The US Embassy and AAAG are,
therefore, inviting all interested parties to attend the programmes for the
commemoration free of charge.
Events marking the commemoration
include panel discussions, a traditional African American church service, a
durbar, and a symposium.
The programmes would highlight
the impact Dr Du Bois had on the lives of African Americans, the African
Diaspora and individuals dedicated to shaping the socio-political landscape of
the US throughout the 20th Century.
In addition, the programmes would
focus on discussing the issues influencing Pan-Africanism.
As part of the historic
celebrations, the statement said, the US Embassy and AAAG would welcome Dr Du
Bois’ great-grandson, Mr Arthur McFarlane II of Colorado, USA, to lead a wreath
laying ceremony at the Du Bois Mausoleum and give public lectures.
It said the events would commence
with the “Black History Month Launch on the Topic: Honouring our Past,
Affirming our Present, Owning our Future, on Saturday, February 3, at the
W.E.B. Du Bois Centre at Cantonments in Accra.
There would be a traditional
African American church service on Sunday, February 11, and a durbar and wreath
laying ceremony on Monday, February 19 at the same venue.
An academic symposium on the
theme: “Honouring Dr W.E.B. Du Bois, Yesterday and Today” would be held on
February 22, at the Institute of African Studies, University of Ghana, Legon.
It would be followed by a public
lecture by Mr Arthur McFarlane II on February 24, at the John Evans Atta Mills
Presidential Library in Cape Coast.
The statement said the
commemoration would also witness the Lighting of Cape Coast Castle on February
24 and white ceremony on February 25.
It would be climaxed with “An
evening of Spoken Word” at the W.E.B. Du Bois Centre on March 3, 2018.
GNA
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