Ghana: Sarkodie named ambassador of new pan-African museum

The museum was created by Ghanaian statesman and the founder of the African University College of Communications, Kojo Yankah. A decorated musician, Sarkodie is expected to bring his star power to the initiative, which according to Yankah is dedicated to reigniting the passion for the development of Africa among young people from the continent and beyond. 

Over his career and particularly in recent months, pan-Africanism has been a constant theme in Sarkodie's music. Both during a 2019 BET hip hop cypher and on 'Brown Paper Bag', a recent collaboration with M.anifest, Sarkodie explores the themes of African heritage, unity and repatriation. Additionally, his latest album Black Love celebrates the fortitude of love brewed in Africa. 

Sarkodie will perform at the museum's virtual with American rapper Mos Def on 21 September.

The Pan-African Heritage World Museum is expected to be completed in 2022 and is estimated to cost $30m. It will be run by an international NGO backed by a council of scholars with funding through donations and grants. It will consist of a museum, conference centre, herbal plant farm, cultural village depicting African kingdoms, and sculptures of notable contributors in the areas of sports, entertainment, politics, science and culture.

“Having grown up in Ghana during the Kwame Nkrumah [Ghana’s first president] era, and having been involved in pan-Africanist activities including chairing the Pan-African Festival in Ghana for 10 years, and having had the privilege of being board chairman of the Ghana Heritage Conservation Trust for another 10 years, I consider it a sacred obligation at this time in world history to create and lead a team to spearhead the establishment of a Pan-African Heritage World,” Yankah said. 

Yankah added that the museum would serve as a venue for festivals and provide “a rare space for historical enlightenment, spiritual upliftment and irrepressible inspiration, located appropriately in Ghana, the beacon of African liberation."

Ghanaian President Nana Akufo-Addo will deliver the keynote speech at the launch of the project. He will be joined by Queen Diambi Kabatusuila of the DRC, and Yoruba regents Oba Lamidi Olayiwola Adeyemi III (Alaafin of Oyo) and Oba Adeyeye Enitan Ogunwusi Ojaja II (Ooni of Ife).

Interested persons can register here to watch the launch online. It will take place form 12pm to 1.30pm WAT. For more information, visit Pan-African Heritage World official website or send an email to info@pahw.org.