"AKWAABA! Ghana Welcomes the Obamas”
Africa Channel documentary goes behind the scenes of President Obama’s historic trip to Ghana
September 22, 2009
In a two-hour documentary, entitled “Akwaaba! Ghana Welcomes the Obamas” The Africa Channel reveals how the people of Ghana have embraced America’s first black president as one of their own. The name of the documentary is taken from the word Akwaaba, which means welcome in the Twi language spoken by the Akan people of Ghana.
The special explores the emotional connection between the people of Ghana and President Obama and features interviews with two of Ghana’s past presidents, John Kufour and Jerry Rawlings, along with other top government officials and business leaders. Rita Marley, the wife of Reggae legend Bob Marley, is interviewed about the humanitarian projects she has developed through the Rita Marley and Bob Marley Foundations in the Eastern Region of Ghana where she now lives.
Also included in the documentary are interviews with the two men who took the First Family on a tour of the notorious Cape Coast castle where millions of Africans spent their last days before passing through the “door of no return” on fateful voyages across the Atlantic and into slavery. Ghanaian radio personality Blakk Rasta explains the inspiration for his popular song “Barack Obama” which was written in 2007, long before Candidate Obama was thought to have a chance to even win the Democratic nomination, let alone become president. Other elements in the documentary include a visit to a local club where young hip hop, spoken word and other artists perform songs about President Obama and describe why he is such an inspiration to them. And five-and-six-year-old Ghanaian school children send special messages to the Obama children.
Watch Akwaaba! Ghana Welcomes the Obamas,” premiering on The Africa Channel October 4th at 8pm/Eastern.
Read excerpts from October EBONY’s “Obama in Ghana.”
