The Department of Theatre Studies of the University of Cape Coast (UCC) in collaboration with the United States of America (U.S.) Embassy in Ghana has held a memorial festival to commemorate the 2015 edition of the Black History Month.
Black History Month is an annual celebration of achievements by black Americans and a time for recognizing the central role African Americans played in the history of the U.S. the 2015 edition of the Festival was “Heritage Africa: Global Africa in Human History.”
Opening the festival at the School of Medical Sciences Auditorium, the Dean of the Faculty of Arts, Prof. Dora Edu-Buandoh noted that the Faculty was excited to be associated with activities of the historic month celebration. She acknowledged the significant contributions of the black slaves to civilization of the world. She expressed appreciation to the US Embassy for the financial assistance to enable the Department of Theatre and Film Studies to hold such a memorial and educative programme.
The Deputy Chief of Mission at the US Embassy, Madam Pat Alsup in a speech indicated that the Black History Month should help us to remember our past and celebrate our achievement as a people. She noted that the US would continue to share in the achievement of blacks all over the world through the celebration of the Black History Month.
Madam Alsup described the event as very significant especially when it was being held in Cape Coast, the town where most of the black slaves converged to before being shipped to America and Europe. She finally commended the Department of Theatre and Film Studies for championing this event and also bringing on board both the University Community and some members of the African-American/Caribbean Association.
Delivering a lecture at the function, Prof. Kofi Anyidoho of the Institute of African Studies, University of Ghana, indicated it was important to make a clearer assessment based on proper ideals of Africans. He noted that slavery was a story of humiliation to Africans however, it was worth celebrating.
Prof. Anyidoho enumerated the numerous achievements and contributions of Africans in all aspect of human development. He pointed out that “the problem of the world is miseducation” and suggested that Africans must come together to establish a University that uses an indigenous language as the medium of instruction to be able to correct the wrong perception and information about the continent and its people. He added that “To reconstruct memory is to invoke impossibilities” and therefore called on all Africans to feel proud of the black race and defend our heritage at all times.
There were solidarity messages from the African American/Caribbean Association and the Black Students Association, UCC. The founding Dean of the Faculty of Law chaired the morning session of the programme.
The evening session of the programme witnessed spectacular performance from the Department of Theatre and Film Studies, UCC, Department of Music and Dance; University Practice Senior High School and Ghana National College.
