The Chairperson of the PANAFEST Foundation, Professor Esi Sutherland-Addy, has called on all Ghanaians to actively participate in this year’s PANAFEST and Emancipation day celebrations, scheduled to take place from July 17 to August 2, 2025.
She made the appeal during the official launch of the 17th edition of PANAFEST and Emancipation Day celebrations held on Monday, June 23, at the Accra Tourism Information Centre.
Professor Sutherland-Addy highlighted that this year’s event, under the theme: Let us Speak of Reparative Justice – Pan African Artistic Activism, is aimed at uniting people of African descent and deepening the collective understanding of African heritage, arts, and culture.
She stressed the importance of recognizing the contributions of African creatives, musicians, actors, painters, and other artists who have significantly influenced global culture.
“There is no popular music in this world that has not been influenced by us and we have to reclaim that ” she said, adding that it is time Africans claimed ownership of their cultural contributions.
The PANAFEST Chairperson also encouraged artists and the general public to take pride in the festival and participate fully.
“For us in Ghana our artst have to embrace what they are doing, If it is possible for people from outside to hear it and come then how come we are not involved in it ourselves,” she asked.
She further urged artists not to wait for formal invitations but to embrace the celebration as an opportunity to showcase their craft and be part of a unifying cultural movement.
“So let us make sure that we involve ourselves in this and don’t say you are waiting for someone to invite you, come and let’s do this together,” she urged.
Story By: Nana Antwi Boasiako
