Toronto’s Agoo Kente Dance is happening again!

The Agoo Kente Dance 2005 was a day of pomp and pageantry, a showcase of folks in their elegant kente cloth. A friend once remarked, “everyone looks beautiful in kente cloth, even a baboon like me”; it was true to the letter at Agoo Kente Dance 2005. The non-stop music and the dancing, the friendly atmosphere enjoyed by the folks who were there and the numerous requests from those who missed it and saw glimpses of it on video or heard about it in the chartrooms are the reasons for the Agoo Kente Dance encore.

After Agoo Kente Dance 2005 we received several requests from Ghanaians for advice on how to hold a similar event in their cities of residence and we shared our knowledge and experience freely. Many Ghanaian communities across cities in the US and Europe have or are in the process of debuting their own version of kente dance. We welcome them on board. We are proud that we have set the stage for kente dance events and now it is spreading like bush fire. In my view, celebrating Kente is a promotional tool to effect positive change in Ghana’s economic development, to showcase its rich culture and people. It is also a joyful experience as we dance and interact with our country folks and others all night long in elegance. We are working on to making it a city event.

It is true that outside of Ghana nothing defines Ghana’s cultural attributes more than its gold ornaments, Kente cloth, and the town of Bonwire; the town where it is said the first Kente was woven and presented to the Asantehene. The Black Stars and of course, the U N Secretary General, Kofi Annan are the other prominent positive attributes associated with Ghana. The euphoria experienced by Ghanaians in every corner of the world during the World Cup, courtesy of the Black Stars will ever stick in our collective memory. This magnitude of celebration that erupted after the Black Stars defeated the US and Czechoslovakia had never been witnessed in our history. The Black Stars’ beautiful display of soccer artistry and their gallant efforts in this year’s World Cup have put Ghana on the map again. At this event we will celebrate this gigantic effort. We will bow our hats to the Black Stars.

The kente is a celebrated icon in Ghana and we as Ghanaians are very proud to see its exploits and embrace in the New World by our kith and kin in Diaspora, especially on college campuses and in African-American dominant churches where strips of Kente cloth are worn as sashes to grace major important occasions. As the news about the last year’s Agoo Kente Dance travels into other black communities in Toronto, our brothers and sisters in Diaspora are rushing for tickets for this year’s Kente Dance. We welcome them with open hands.

We have respectfully listen to comments, and as vehicle for improvement we have acted on them accordingly. The series of music mixes selected will satisfy the taste of the old and the young. All participants will have the opportunity to take a portrait picture by the official Toronto Agoo photographer for feature in future Agoo Magazine publication. Lots of technical improvements have been put in place for the videoing of the dance and hopefully will help capture all attendees. There will be a showcase for the best kente dress and the winner will be crowned as Miss Agoo-Canada and presented with a handsome price. Our sponsors will also offer gifts and ReMax 2000, courtesy of Realtor, Anthony Osei-Kwabena, will raffle a TV.

Those of you who witnessed the era of Sentimental Hotel in Kumasi, my oldman at the start of each dance night at the hotel gave a pep talk and ended with the phrase “enjoy with me”. Enjoy with us at Agoo Kente Dance 2006 at Famee Furlane Banquet Hall on September 3, 2006. Tickets are on sale and are running out fast for this mother of all Kente Dances.