The Africa Channel goes behind the scenes of President Obama’s historic trip to Ghana
in a special two hour documentary.
John Kufour, former President of Ghana speaks about must-see cultural stops in Ghana for Obama
In an unprecedented partnership, The Africa Channel and Ebony/Jet Magazines have joined forces to cover President Barack Obama’s historic journey to Ghana in his first trip to sub-Saharan Africa. A one hour documentary, entitled “Akwaaba! Ghana Welcomes the Obamas” will focus on how the people of Ghana reacted to the first African American president’s first visit to Ghana and will air on The Africa Channel in early October. 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 Ebony/Jet website will feature blogs from writer and author Toby Thompkins, who is covering the story for the magazine, and also feature streaming video from The Africa Channel. Ebony Magazine will showcase a feature article on the trip in its October edition.
The coverage on The Africa Channel and in Ebony/Jet will go behind the headlines to explore the emotional connection between the people of Ghana and President Obama. Featured interviews in both media will include Ghana’s President John Atta Mills and past presidents, John Kufour and Jerry Rawlings. Also interviewed is Rita Marley, the wife of Reggae legend Bob Marley, who has developed a number of humanitarian projects through the Rita Marley and Bob Marley Foundations in the Eastern Region of Ghana where she now lives. Other key elements of the coverage include:
An interview with the Paramount Chief, or Omahene, Osabarima Kwesi Atta II, of the Cape Coast, who met privately with First Lady Michelle Obama and presented her with the honorary title of Queen Mother. The Omahene describes the tour he provided for the First Family through one of the continent’s most notorious slave dungeons where millions of Africans were held before passing through the “door of no return” on fateful voyages across the Atlantic and into slavery for those who managed to survive the journey;
A visit to a local club where young hip hop, spoken word and other artists passionately perform songs about President Obama and describe why he is such an inspiration to them;
Interviews with five and six year old kindergarten students who talk about the messages they’d like to send to Malia and Sasha Obama;
Conversations with some of the thousands of African Americans now living in Ghana, who see the visit by President Obama as an opportunity to build closer ties between the Diaspora and Africa;
Interviews with dozens of Ghanaians from all walks of life who explain why many of them have embraced President Obama as though he were the president of Africa, as well as the United States.
Rita Marley, the wife of reggae superstar Bob Marley has developed a number of humanitarian initiatives through the Rita Marley and Bob Marley Foundations in Eastern Region of Ghana where she now lives. Toby Thompkins of EbonyJet.com and Bob Reid of The Africa Channel interview Marley on her work in Ghana and the expectation Obama’s visit.
