Kente Show brings Ghana to Reggio Emilia

It’s becoming increasingly interesting how Italians are embracing the Ghanaian culture with its traditional drumming and dances. A couple of months after a colourful display of a ‘Kente’ Show Festival in Modena, before a packed house, a similar event was unfolded in the neighbouring city, Reggio Emilia, this time with an increased participation of Italians.

Hosted at Scandiano - an outskirt of the city - by the Ghana Nationals Association in collaboration with Peace and Unity Association (a social Ghanaian organisation), the occasion featured scenes from Ghanaian culture of a durbar involving Chiefs and people, traditional dances and the crowning of a ‘Kente King’. In the midst of the activities were gospel songs performed by some Ghanaian artistes based in the city.

To have enough time to showcase these traditional values and splendour of Ghana, the event was devoid of speeches and long introductions and to the many Italians it was an occasion to see Ghana brought right infront of their eyes.

As usual it started with an entry of two traditional chiefs and their entourage. The special attraction of pageantry and spectacle accompanied them into the ground, a scene which many of the audience not familiar with those scenes looked on with keen interest, clapping in response to the colourful display of regalia and dance.

Shortly after taking their seats, three ‘adowa’ dancers clad in special ‘kente’ cloths, beads and headgear took their turn to display their skills in the dance. The audience welcomed that again with clapping and it got so exciting an Italian watching the scenes could not help, he stepped out of his seat and threw himself into the midst of the action. His movements in the dance with the beat of the traditional drumming was completely off rhythm but he endeared himself in some few minutes of the fun and got the applause of the audience when his legs tired out and retreated to his seat.

To show the various movements of flapping an 8-yard ‘Kente’ cloth around the body of men before going to a ceremony in Ghana, two men, Nana Kwaku and Owusu Sekyere (alias American Embassy) gave a practical demonstration over the whole procedure going over it a couple of times for the participants to get the method. Their every move in the process was explained to the Italians by Francisca Naana Ferguson whose fluency in the language helped matters and drove home the message.

The local ‘Kpanlogo’ dance, associated with natives of Greater Accra Region in Ghana, was also performed by a group of young men, their ‘high velocity’ music and brisk steps dance attracted some of the participants who threw themselves into the excitement. In between these performances were gospel songs from Rita Baidoo, an accomplished gospel artiste, who entertained the house with some songs from her latest album.

Another captivating scene of the day was when the title, ‘Kente King’, was conferred on Nana Kwame Kusi. He was sprinkled with powder and stood before the Chiefs and Elders to swear an oath of allegiance – nothing was taken out here of a similar event in Ghana.

Participants enjoyed a free meal of Italian dishes and joined in an open night dance of Ghanaian music. The interactions between Ghanaians and Italians at the function further goes to show how these nationalities are beginning to absorb each other, a situation that will help strengthen their bond and understand each other culture.

The purpose of the event, according to the President of the Ghanaian Association in the city, Hastings Osei Anokye, was to bring some of the Ghanaian traditions infront of a community that has little or no knowledge of an African culture and on the note of this Show they achieved that.