15th Annual Ghanafest And 5th Pan-African Soccer Tournament Sets Chicago On Fire

....Governor of Illinois sent a heart warming message.
Ghanafest and Pan African Soccer patrons’ prayers were rewarded when the Ghana National Council of Metropolitan Chicago and the African International House in an effort to prevent location difficulty joined forces and organized Ghanafest and Pan African Soccer tournament for two days.

The event was the invention of the two groups which put their strength together this past weekend at Washington Park and presented the 15th Annual GhanaFest and the 5th Annual Pan-African Soccer Tournament.

Ghanafest, which was started about sixteen years ago by a few Ga-Adangbe citizens in Chicago to celebrate Homowo, a traditional harvest celebrations by the Gas in Ghana, grew to over twenty thousand participants last Saturday, as visitors and guests traveled from all over the world to be part of this great fiesta.

Mr. Chuck Bowen, special representative of the mayor of Chicago, his Excellency, Richard M. Daley, presented greetings from the mayor. He commended the Ghana National Council of Metropolitan Chicago for its charitable activities and efforts to unite the Ghanaian, African, African-American and Caribbean communities whilst bringing the history and cultural traditions of Africa to the people of Chicago.

In a message to the organizers, the governor of Illinois, Rod Blagojevich noted that the Ghanaian population is flourishing throughout the Chicagoland and hope that the two day event will provide all Chicagoans with the opportunity to gain unique insight into the captivating Ghanaian culture.

The outgoing president of Ghana National Council and Chairman of Ghanafest organizing committee, Mr. Clement Timpo said “The spirit of Ghanafest is manifested in its unifying force for us Ghanaian immigrants, as it brings a high level of camaraderie among us. On this day, Ghanaians have the opportunity to mingle and exchange greetings. This occasion gives us a sense of great hope and great national pride in our ability to make great strides in this Diaspora.”

The chairman of Ghana National Council of Metropolitan Chicago, Mr. A.C Eddie Quartey, used the occasion to introduce the president elect of the Ghana National Council of Metropolitan Chicago Dr. Abdallah Yahaya and his vice Mrs. Elizabeth Bekoe to the community. Dr. Yahaya and his vice both commended the outgoing executives for a good job done and promised to continue from where they have left.

The guest of honor, Mr. Augustine Afriyie, president of the Oakley Construction Co, Inc., in his address, advised the community to avail themselves to the numerous opportunities around them in the United States by working hard, staying focused and united as a community.

The Ghana National Council honored five members of the community by awarding them plaques for their outstanding services to the Ghanaian community. The recipients were as follow: Mr. A.C Eddie Quartey, Chairman of both Ghana Chicago club and Ghana National Council, Nana Kwame Affram, chief of the Kwahu Community in the Chicago area, Mrs. Adelaide Grant Acquah, president of Fanti Benevolent Organization, and the outgoing Organizing and Special Events Secretary of the Ghana National Council, Mr. Berko Akoto ( A.KA. The Journalist) founder and editor-in-chief of African Spectrum and Seriki Alhaji Suleman, chief of the Haske Society and the Ghanaian Muslim community of Chicago.

The event substantially represented the African Diaspora. Vendors from Mali, Ghana, Nigeria, Liberia, Senegal, West Indies and merchants from Chicago’s African American communities made for a blend of cultural history, admiration and entertainment.

Festival goers were treated to seemingly endless caches of African fabrics like Kent? Cloth custom-made into Dashikis, sashes, hats, head-wraps, shawls and coats for men and women. Vendor tables displayed assortments of African jewelry such as ankhs, “butter” and Baltic amber-colored necklaces, wrist bands. African art, crafts and paintings, which were on sale were on display on most vendors tables. Ghanaian dishes served by original Ghanaian vendors such as Shattoo, Auntie Grace, Ga-Adangbe Association, Ewe Association, Fanti Benevolent Organization, and other Ghana National Council affiliate organizations with such combinations as kenkey, shito, jollof-rice, okro-soup, waatse ,omotuo were a lasting mouth-watering experience for patrons. Attendants were as diverse as the assortment of delicacies served.

Christine Williams, white, from Lisle Illinois, has been attending GhanaFest every year since she stumbled into the celebrations 10 years ago. “I’ve been coming here for 10 years now.” she says. “What I like about it is that you discover traditions, good food and enjoy yourself with good music,” she concludes. A young African American, Joseph Peterson was visiting from New York, NY. “ I was told by a friend last year that Chicago displays the best of African culture in the United States, and I am here to see it first hand” “Count on me to be here next year, I love it, my warmest thanks to the organizers for a well organized function”. Tay Agbozu from Italy enthusiastically said, “I saw the Ghanafest advert on Ghanaweb last year but I could not make it. This year, I contacted the Ghana National Council website and learnt of the dates for this year. I will definitely bring my family next year”.

Eye catching group of Ghanaian Associations and their members looked regal and royal as each group sat stoically while flanking its respective chief and Queen. Some chief’s had their feet dignified by resting them on richly embroidered and gold laced pillows. Live bands led by Dan Boadi, president of the musician union of Ghana in Chicago, Wilson Walsh & Frimpong (Amakye Dede fame), Helena Rhabbles, Nat Awuni, contemporary gospel singers, Kwame Bediako and Sam Ghansa, Reggae musicians, Joe Atiso, (Ramblers International fame) and Kofi Hanson of Dansika, played multi-national dance music, such as hip-hop, Reggae, Sukus, Funky, Rapps etc, that carried heavy bass and drum rhythms to the joy of patrons. DJ Isaac Bempong interlaced the live band music with Ghanaian highlife music which draws the crowd in waves to their feet dancing!

The peak of the festival was when most patrons stretch their necks or stand tip-toe to watch each traditional Chief , Queen and royal company majestically step up to the dance floor and performed royal dance with pomp and pageantry; each dance rhythm carrying a message of won battles, strength and royal highness.

For the first time, organizers included in their program stilt dancers alongside the traditional Adowa dancers to the delight of the crowd.

The ewe youth borborbor troop led the crowd into twisting and turning their bodies as the group performs to the popular Ga music, “Gbe dzeke”.

The 5th Pan—African Soccer tournament started on Saturday with most teams fighting for the three thousand dollars and a tall silver plated trophy for the winner.

Soccer fans and supporters of teams held their breath till the final whistle of each game.

Gazelle Soccer Club of Nigeria beat a select Liberian team by 3goals to 1 to win the tournament.

The alliance of Ghana National Council and the African International House to merge the two festivals was such a success that one could only hope that the saga would be repeated next year.

The main sponsors of the event are Western Union, American Family Insurance, City of Chicago, Annaka Enterprise, English Fabrics, Oakley Construction Company Inc. and the Musicians Union of Ghana headed by Dan Boadi.