Written by Kyobe John
Panafest, the Pan-African Historical Theatre Festival (PANAFEST) has just begun! This event is held every two years in Ghana to celebrate the history, culture, and unity of the Ghanaian people. Since its inception in 1992, Panafest themes have reflected the political, social, and economic advancement of Africa. Panafest is held every two years to encourage learning about the history of Africa using traditional arts and culture. Panafest 2021’s theme was Securing the African Family: Our Soul, Our Health, Our Wealth. This year, their celebration focuses on Re-Claiming the African Family: Confronting the Past to face the Challenges of the 21st century and is happening from July 19th to August 1st.
Panafest attracts a diverse assembly of people – ranging from political leaders, eminent personalities, and intellectuals – to entrepreneurs, investors, philanthropists, and vacationers. Central to the celebration are major international performing and visual artists from across Africa. On their website, they describe their mission and vision as such:
To establish the truth about the history of Africa and the experience of its people, using the vehicle of African arts and culture;
To provide a forum to promote unity between Africans on the continent and in the diaspora;
To affirm the common heritage of African peoples the world over and define Africa’s contribution to world civilization;
To encourage regular review of Africa’s development, objectives, strategies, and policies; and
To mobilize consensus for the formulation and implementation of potential alternative options for development.
Over the time of the festival, we will be giving you articles on Ghana’s culture, food, and much much more to round out this PANAFEST series. If you’re interested in learning more about the festival, check out the links below:
