Jul 13, 2009 1
Jul 12, 2009 0
The Arrival
Arriving into Cape Coast was like arriving at carnival. People were in the streets, roads were blocked, police were on guard directing traffic and everybody was breathless with anticipation of the President’s arrival. When the helicopters started to fly above I pulled out my cell phone and called my Dad. I wanted to share this moment with him from the comfort of his living room in Wilmington, Delaware. Women carrying fresh fruit strategically balancing platters on their heads sold their wears to the crowd. Tee shirts, dancing, water bottles and cameras, we all waited for the Obama’s to arrive.
Bob Reid of The Africa Channel who has partnered with Ebony to capture this historic event on film was on the prowl. He has a tiger’s eye for what makes a good image. He instinctively knows where to find the next great angle or soundbite and I have learned on this journey to step back and let the master do his thing. Bob and I are engaged in two different creative processes. He works hard to capture the images that speak for themselves and to that end he uses angles, light, and color to tell the story. I create imagery through the translation of the physical world into the written world. I have to take in the moment and then step back to create a panorama that is syncopated not by soundbites but by words.
I can’t wait to see the film documentary that The Africa Channel is creating of this historic event. Our incredible crew Nii, Jason, Abass, Michael, and Evans are also wide eyed with anticipation. The younger and slimmer ones among us manage to slip into the crowds which were about 20 rows deep to get to the barricades and position themselves to get the best glimpse of President Obama, the Beast, and anything else going on. Cheers upon cheers and the sound of the drums let us know the moment of his arrival. The crowd moved almost in sync to the beat of the drums…..President of the United States, a son of Africa had arrived…. and as quickly as he appeared, he vanished into the castle for a private tour.
Jul 12, 2009 0
Feeling Home on The Road to Cape Coast
Today we followed President Obama to Cape Coast where he toured the slave castle and met with the Paramount Chief of Cape Coast. The journey to Cape Coast was a magical moment unto itself. Driving along the two lane coastal highway I found myself stopping to wonder about my connection to Ghana. For the first time I wondered if my ancestors might have traveled on the very ground I was exploring.
Things here, especially when you get out of the hustling city of Accra, become strangely familiar. Familiar not by scenery but by sensation. For example, I noticed that the roadside vendors sold ginger snaps, a life long favorite of my 92 year old father. One lady sitting in the doorway of her brother’s business looked like the reincarnation of my older half sister. She even smiled at me the same way my sister did when she was alive. Can a place be so strangely familiar that it feels like home? In many ways my logic disconnected itself from my brain and attached itself to my spirit today.
With each passing mile we encountered Ghanaians wearing hats, playing music, eating food. When I would greet them they simply smiled and said “Obama!.” Obama whose message to Ghanaian Parliament and the people of Africa was more symbolic than tactical has become a powerful unifying force for Africa. I just hope beyond hope that he can facilitate the change that Africa is yearning for. But how can one man from whom we expect so much do enough for Africa or Africa-America? When you visit Africa all the commercials with the sweet, angelic faces of malnourished children dotted with the hollowed eyes of hopelessness begin to find a broader perspective. Kids will play anywhere, in the street, in a polluted river, on a battlefield, meanwhile misery awaits their return. The villages of Ghana are no exception.
Jul 10, 2009 0
Diversions: Bless the Mic
As I mentioned in an earlier post, I went to Bless The Mic, just off Oxford Street near Papaye in the Osu section of Accra. Bless The Mic is a free style hip-hop/ spoken word event in Accra. I listened to vocalist and rappers spit rhymes inspired by Obama. Once we work out a tech glitch on this end, I’ll post some of the performances and interviews with some of the performers. But the talent in Accra is fresh, young, original and African with a dash of guest performers from as far away as Washington, DC. The audience last night was a global village of young expats and locals who shared a love for music, beats, prose, and fun. If you make it this way, it’s a must stop. - Toby Thompkins
Jul 10, 2009 0
Watching the Arrival - from Afar
At dusk this evening, I was standing seaside at my favorite cafe in Accra, Ghana called Osekan, when all of a sudden the sky lit up with beautiful fireworks and people started cheering around me and shouting O-BA-MAAAAA O-BAAAA-MAAAAA!
It was really happening and all of Accra stood still to watch what many people have billed as Obama’s homecoming. It was virtually impossible to catch a glimpse of the Presidential caravan but the radio stations gave blow by blow details of the arrival.
Thousands of people gathered around the airport to watch the arrival of Air Force One hoping to catch a glimpse of the Obama caravan and his presidential car called “The Beast.” My friend Evans and I pulled our car over to the side of the road in hopes that the caravan might pass by us. We stood under a BIG billboard that had a picture of Ghanaian President John Atta Mills and President Obama and the words “AKWABBA” (welcome) plastered along the bottom.
Jul 10, 2009 0
Tragic Floods in Cape Coast
I learned this morning from my friend Seestah IMAHKÜS Njinga Okofu Ababio, an African American resort owner author of Returning Home Ain’t Easy But It Sure Is A Blessing and Points To Ponder – A Travel Guide, and who loves in Cape Coast, the area where Obama is scheduled to visit on Saturday, that several communities suffered severe damage due to flooding. These are small fishing villages along the coast, The Gulf of Guinea, in Cape Coast and Elmina areas.
It has been raining steadily for several weeks (this is the rainy season). She said that many buildings have collapsed, walls surrounding homes have fallen down and most of these people have nowhere to go. Some of the villages affected are Abakam (Cape Coast), Abana, Atonkwa, Iture and Jaqil (Elmina) to name a few. Seestah IMAHKUS lives in a village called Iture. Members of the local Cape Coast and Accra African Ascendant community are looking for any help and assistance from the African American, Diasporan, and international communities.
According to the Ministry of Information for Ghana, there have been no fatalities and national disaster relief services have been sent to Cape Coast from the diasporan community and international community. When I spoke to a number of Ghanaians today who have heard about this natural disaster, they commented that they feared that the Obama visit to Cape Coast might overshadow the urgent need for help and assistance to the communities. They are waiting to see what President Obama’s response to this unfortunate natural tragedy will be during his visit. I will be heading to Cape Coast later today to cover the Presidential visit.
Jul 10, 2009 0
A Night in Accra
I just came from a happy hour at Chez Afrique, a hot outdoor cafe and lounge in an area of Accra called East Legon that serves spicy local cuisine in a great outdoor casual atmosphere.
Toni Manieson, an African American jazz singing expat from Los Angeles and Ofie Ofuatey-Kodjoe, a Ghanaian-American vocalist debuted a new cd single called AKWABBA OBAMA in honor of President and First Lady Michelle Obama’s visit to Ghana. The song has a warm, jazzy and inviting melody with unifying lyrics of pride and unity for all people, not just Black people. Later tonight I am headed off to Bless The Mic, a spoken word event that is developed by my friend Nii, a young African Prince who is a member of the Royal Gaa family in Accra. He has invited artists to come and perform music and poems about Obama. It should be fun. Tomorrow I’ll tell you how it went.
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