Du Bois memorial center commemorates the end of chattel slavery 400 years ago

Over the years the success and progress of Africa cannot be discussed without talking about the blood shared by it’s ancestors who surfed and survived slavery from its colonial masters.

It’s been 400 years since the  first documented shipment of Africans from Jamestown Ghana to Jamestown Virginia USA which is termed the year of return.

In recognition of Ghana’s celebration of the “year of Rerun-2019,  and also as part of Du Bois Center’s mandate of promoting the Du Bois intellectual legacy through research, Public Education, the Arts and Conservative Dialogue , the center has collaborated with Mr Emmanuel Quarty Papafio  to mount and share painted works of art under the theme “Pan -Africanism-Reflections of Resilience-Dignity in the face of Atrocity.

The exhibition took place at the iconic campus for Pan-Africanism ,The W E B Du Bois Memorial Center For Pan-African Culture in Accra Ghana on 17th of April 2019.

Speaking at the exhibition, Executive Director for the center Mr Paul H. Kwaw said the paintings depict some of the forts and castles built along the coast of Ghana during the era of the evil and despicable trade, and the inhuman conditions under which Africans were shipped to the new world.

According to him, the exhibition is also Du Bois center’s way of saying “never again” to such evil atrocity that allowed one race to bestow on another.

On his part Mr Emmanuel Quarty-Papafio an accomplished Ghanaian contemporary artist said his paintings are to create the awareness about the past so that Africans can stand against slavery as black people.

He said his inspiration for painting was drawn after visiting the elmina castle in 1980, same year he made his first professional painting which has traveled all around the world. He urged the general public especially Ghanaians to make time to visit the various tourist sites in the country so as to have a fair idea of what African ancestors went through.

Also present at the exhibition was Mr Nat Nunoo Amarteifio a former mayor of Accra who shared the experience he had with Kwame Nkrumah and Du Bois when he was younger. He commended the artist saying “his paintings provoke memories, he lets us see we have buildings which have played major roles in shaping our country” He added.

Mr Paul who also use the privilege to celebrate and honor the contributions of black people to the building of America urged the youth present at the exhibition to take their studies serious, use technology to their advantage and do their best to  excel in what they do to improve on humanity’s existence.

The paintings are still available for viewing at the Du Bois memorial center in Accra Ghana

By kelvin FNk