The 2023 Pan-African Historical and Theatre Festival (PANAFEST) and Emancipation Day celebrations commenced with a solemn wreath-laying ceremony at significant historical sites in Accra today, 24th July 2023.
The event, held every two years since its inception in 1992, aims to promote unity, Pan-Africanism and the development of Africa. Emancipation Day, an annual observance introduced in Ghana in 1998, marks the abolition of slavery in the British Colonies in 1834.
This year’s edition saw dignitaries and participants gather at the W.E.B. Du Bois Centre, the George Padmore Library and the Kwame Nkrumah Memorial Park to lay wreaths as a tribute to the ancestors who endured the hardships of slavery. These iconic locations served as poignant reminders of the struggle for freedom and human dignity.
Under the theme, “Empowering the African Family to Confront the Challenges of the 21st Century,” Ghana’s Minister of Tourism and Creative Arts, Hon. Mohammed Awal, emphasized the vital role of education in empowering African families for a prosperous future.
“We have to equip our young people with the knowledge, competencies and skills so that they can find jobs on the market. As we speak now, Africa needs to generate about 50million jobs over the next 10 years to equip its young people to survive,” he said
He highlighted President Akufo-Addo’s initiative of Free SHS which has granted access to free education to over 2 million young people, thereby contributing to equipping the youth for the job market and preparing them for the challenges ahead.
The celebrations had earlier commenced on 19th July 2023 with a pilgrimage to Northern Ghana, retracing the historical slave routes and paths that Ghanaian ancestors traveled before being transported to the Cape Coast and Elmina Castles.
Participants visited significant locations such as the Pikworo Slave Camp in the Upper East Region, the Salaga Slave Camp in the Northern Region and the Bono Slave Market in the Bono East Region. The pilgrimage concluded with a symbolic crossing of River Pra at Assin Praso in the Central Region, signifying a return to the homeland.
This year’s PANAFEST as part of its recognition of the influential role of music and creative arts in changing narratives, will include a summit and conversation focused on the impact of film and music in uniting the global African family. Distinguished panelists will include Jason Carter, CEO of ONE Musicfest, Jasmine Young, Director of Warner Music & Blavatnik Centre for Music at Howard University and renowned Ghanaian musicians Trigmatic and Rocky Dawuni, to engage in discussions to highlight the unifying potential of these art forms.
Other panelists will include P.Y. Addo Boateng, a prominent Ghanaian film producer, Robert Hardy, an acclaimed film and television director and esteemed actresses and philanthropists Juliet Ibrahim, AJ Johnson, Ama K. Abebrese and director Socrates Safo, who will contribute to the conversation, underscoring the importance of creative expressions in fostering a strong sense of African identity.
The PANAFEST/Emancipation Day celebration is set to extend beyond the wreath-laying ceremony and the creative arts summit. A diverse array of activities, including an inter-faith dialogue, colloquium, return journey and an “Akwaaba” ceremony, youth day, durbar of traditional leaders, and women’s day, are lined up to engage participants and promote the rich cultural heritage of Africa.