A lovely representation of feminine beauty by a Ghanaian artist.
An example of the superb Ghanaian craftsmanship that will be on display at Ghana Day 2010.
The Ghana Council of Georgia, working in conjunction will all Ghanaian associations in Georgia, will put on Ghana Day 2010 on Saturday, July 3rd. A statement released by the President of the Ghana Council of Georgia, Kwasi Aye-Addo, proudly proclaims, Ghana Day will provide Ghanaians with the opportunity to showcase Ghana’s rich tradition, culture and arts and crafts. The happy events at Ghana Day 2010 will include a picnic so the statement advises, Bring some food and drinks to share with others.
According to Evelyn A. Davis, a prominent Ghanaian community activist in metro Atlanta as well as Public Relations Officer for the Ghana Council of Georgia, Ghana Day is organized to build unity among Ghanaians in Georgia. No less than twelve Ghanaian associations are participating in Ghana Day 2010 with the Ghana Council of Georgia as the umbrella organization.
What sorts of crafts and works of art will be displayed at Ghana Day 2010? Authentic Ghanaian crafts including masks, sculptures, oil paintings and other items, Davis answers.
Admission to Ghana Day 2010 is free and Ghanaian associations hope that it will attract not only their countrymen and women but also all interested people regardless of race, ethnicity, country of citizenship or national background. Bring your picnic chairs, umbrellas, drinks and food and join in! Davis cheerfully invites.
The country that will be honored by Ghana Day 2010 is indeed a remarkable one. The word Ghana means Warrior King. The country received this title because of the kings of the West African Ghana Empire. Called the Gold Coast when it was established as a British colony in 1874, the country became independent from the United Kingdom in 1957. It was the first sub-Saharan African country to achieve independence from Great Britain.
The Wikipedia reports, Ghana is the second largest producer of cocoa in the world and is also home to Lake Volta, the largest artificial lake in the world. Ghana’s flag consists of three thick horizontal stripes, red on top, yellow in the middle, and green on the bottom with a five-pointed star in the yellow stripe. The motto of the country is Freedom and Justice and its national anthem is God Bless Our Homeland Ghana. The nation has a Christian majority with a large Muslim minority and a large minority following indigenous African faiths.
Ghana recently enjoyed a major triumph in the world of sports during the 2010 World Cup for soccer. The soccer team representing Ghana won a victory against the team representing the United States. This Ghanaian win put Ghana, the last African team in the tournament, into the final eight teams competing for the coveted title of the 2010 World Cup.
A parliamentary democracy, Ghana has a constitution passed in 1992 that divides powers among a President, Parliament, Cabinet, Council of State and Judiciary. The citizens of the country enjoy universal suffrage. The country’s official language is English and forty-seven different languages are commonly used by its many and diverse ethnic groups. Among Ghana’s largest ethnic groups are the Ashanti, Akwapim, Fante, Akyem, Kwahu, Ga, Ewe, Mamprusi and Dagomba. The multiple influences of its various ethnic groups are evident in many aspects of its culture including its deliciously spicy cuisine and gracefully energetic dances.
According to the Wikipedia, Textiles are very important in Ghanaian culture. These cloths are used to make traditional and modern attire. . . . The Kente is probably the most famous of all the Ghanaian cloths. Kente is an Ashanti ceremonial cloth hand-woven on a horizontal treadle loom. . . . In a cultural context, kente is more important than just a cloth. It is a visual representation of history, and also form of a written language through weaving. The term kente has its roots in the Twi word kenten which means a basket.
Reuben Darku is the Public Relations Officer of the GaDangme Association of Georgia, one of the associations included under the umbrella of the Ghana Council of Georgia. He is also a member of the Ghana Council of Georgia. When asked what makes his home country most special, he answers, Its people. We are one of the nicest and friendliest peoples on earth.
What does Darku see as the major challenges facing Ghana today? Corruption in government and politics, he soberly comments. Another challenge is undue outside influence which could impact our culture.
People from Ghana are drawn to metro Atlanta by the same qualities that make living here attractive to so many different peoples from all around the world, Darku believes. They come here because of metro Atlanta’s warm climate and comparatively low cost of living, he asserts. What sorts of challenges does he believe they face here? Immigration, better jobs and education, he says.
The extraordinarily entertaining and educational event that constitutes Ghana Day 2010 will begin at 11:00 a.m. and be held at Grant Park that is located at 800 Cherokee Ave. in Atlanta next to Zoo Atlanta. To learn more, call 404-483-2295, 678-768-7777, 678-662-7066 or 678-665-2190.
