157th anniversary of W.E.B Du Bois’s birthday commemorated in Accra
The William Edward Burghardt Du Bois Museum Foundation, on Sunday commemorated the 157th anniversary of the birth of Dr W.E.B. Du Bois.
The event held in Accra at the W.E.B. Du Bois Memorial Centre for Pan-African Culture, featured reflections on his life and work, along with a solemn wreath-laying ceremony to honour his contributions to Pan-Africanism, racial equity, and social justice.
Speaking at the event, the Minister for Tourism, Culture and Creative Arts, Abla Dzifa Gomashie, reaffirmed government’s dedication to conserving and advancing Pan-Africanism in the country.
She noted that the W.E.B Du Bois Centre was a significant cultural and historical site within her portfolio.
The Minister emphasised that Ghana was privilege as custodians of the remains of great Pan-African figures like W.E.B. Du Bois.
She also underlined the significance of the ‘Black Star Experience’ a flagship initiative supported by her ministry, highlighting the need to work together to achieve its goals.
On his part, the Executive Director of the W.E.B. Du Bois Museum Foundation, Mr Japhet Aryiku, disclosed that the foundation has committed to raising millions of dollars to develop the facility for the benefit of the Ghanaian people.
He revealed that even though government had neither sold nor leased the Du Bois Centre land to the foundation, however, the foundation was dedicated to restoring and renovating Dr Du Bois’ iconic bungalow, with full funding already secured.
Mr Aryiku further announced plans to construct a new memorial to keep Du Bois’ remains, alongside a space for reflection and meditation, featuring an eternal flame, while a state-of-the-art museum will be established to honour the life and work of Dr Du Bois and Shirley Graham Du Bois.
He also disclosed that the foundation has partnered with the Library of Congress under a four-year agreement to provide technical support for restoration and conservation efforts of Du Bois’ extensive collection of books and papers.
Moreover, Mr Aryiku expressed excitement about the upcoming construction of a world-class research library that will house these invaluable works, making them accessible to scholars and the general public.
The event featured speakers like Mr Daniel Rose, Chairman of the W.E.B Du Bois Museum Foundation, Odell Murry, Custodian of the Du Bois Legacy, Dr Preston King, an American academic and civil rights activist, Dr Whitney Battle-Baptiste, Director of the W.E.B Du Bois Centre at UMass Amherst, Prof. Alhassan Anamzoya, Head of Sociology at the University of Ghana, Ramsey Ryan, Chief of Staff at the Library of Congress, and Jeffrey Peck, great-grandson of Dr Du Bois.
BY CECILIA YADA LAGBA
