Day 3: Students Support Artists at Black Star Gate

By Johneé Wilson, 13 March 2023

Photo Credit: Ghanaian Artist, Tony

Thoughts From Nya:

Today marked our first full day in Accra! The breakfast room was filled with sleepy, yet eager faces ready to start the day's adventures. Our first stop; Black Star Square, also known as Independence Square. The public square is a gathering site for national events and the annual Independence Day celebrations. As we walked the square, we were greeted by artists selling beautiful handmade paintings (that we were compelled to buy!). Directly across the square sits Black Star Gate. The black 5-pointed star is meant to represent Ghana and the country’s newfound independence, while also nodding to Marcus Harvey’s Pan-Africanism movement. Following the square, we traveled to the National Museum where we were further educated about the country’s customs and cultural norms, and even had a music lesson from Dzen Nako Cultural Music Group! Although jet lag caught up to us, our Sunday has been filled with so much joy, laughter, and knowledge. It was an amazing introduction to what is to come in the following days.

Stay Tuned!

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Black Star Square / Independence Arch

Photo Credit: Johneé Wilson

Folding chairs and orange construction cones scattered across the parking lot as American University (AU) students walked toward the Independence Arch to get a closer look. Dr. Kwame Nuamah, Professor of African Civilization at AU and native Ghanaian, reminded us that six days prior, March 6, 2023, Ghana celebrated its 66th Independence Day. The Independence Arch was erected 1961 during Kwame Nkrumah's presidency to symbolize the struggle to for the Gold Coast, present day Ghana, to gain its liberty from British Colonial Rule.

Black Star Gate

Photo Credit: Nya Wheeler

AU Grad Student, Paige Botjer, stands on the first floor of the Black Star Gate before a portrait of Kwame Nwai Nkrumah, who served as he president of Ghana between 1 July 1960 to 24 February 1966. Above, is a star encompassing 'Afro futuristic' paintings of great Black leaders, including Marcus Garvey, the Pan-Africanist who exposed Nkrumah to the philosophy that, "only when the black race governed itself could there be harmony between the races (Rooney, David. Kwame Nkrumah: The Political Kingdom in the Third World (1988)." Pictured with Garvey is Malcolm X, located at the point of the star, and Haile Selassie, located on the bottom right point of the star.

Photo Credit: Isaac, Ghanaian Tour Guide

Nya Wheeler, AU Grad Student, fashions Ghana's flag while standing atop the Black Star Gate. Today was as an ongoing celebration of Ghana's independence.

National Museum of Ghana

Photo Credit: Johneé Wilson

View from inside of the museum (R to L):

1. Female mannequin represents the Dipo, a ceremony for the Puberty Rites of Passage for girls after they have started their menstrual cycles.

2. Seven staffs represent the clan totems of the Akan

3. Akan King is wearing traditional garments (King would traditionally wear totems of his own clan on his crown, instead of common Adinkra symbols).

4. Portrait of Nana Sir Ofori Atta I (Dr. Kwamé Nuamah's tribal king).

Drumming in the Garden

Video Credit: Ghanaiain Musician

From left to right, Johneé Wilson, plays the Doumbek drum, Nya Wheeler, taps the Agogo, and Jordyn Pigott, plays the Doumbek. They were guided by expert Ghanaian instrumentalist in the yard of National Museum of Ghana.

Lunch: Golden Chopsticks

Photo Credit: Johneé Wilson

After an adventurous afternoon, we sat in a circle to break bread in the true spirit of West African collectivism. The spread consisted of curry chicken / beef, fish, fried rice, and fresh juice. The fresh pressed ginger-pineapple juice was so popular among our group, so we made sure to bring George, our designated van driver, some of the thirst-quenching goodness. After lunch, George drove us to the Accra Mall to pick up personal items before returning to the accommodation at Yiri Lodge on the University of Ghana campus in South Legon.