Ghana, has been recognized for being the first African country to take part in the eminent Salvador Festival in Bahia, Brazil, which occurred from February 9- 14, 2024. Ghana has for quite some time been known as a Pan-African country that generally open its arms to the African diaspora.
Brazil is actually the country where most of arrested enslaved Africans were taken during the transoceanic slave trade. And there is still a strong influence of African culture in the country.
During the festival that recently ended, Ghanaian culture became the dominant focal point and offered a special opportunity to grandstand the country’s rich culture, interface with the diaspora and built a more grounded bond with other countries.
Under the theme, “Reconnecting Afro Roots,” the Salvador carnival filled in as a blend of other cultures, where countries from around the globe met up to celebrate their customs through costumes, music, dance, and art. This year, Ghana gladly addressed Africa and drew in with diasporians who can follow their beginnings back to the country.
A delegation which included artists and officials from the Ministry of Tourism, Arts and Culture, representatives from the Association of Ghana Industries (AGI), and stakeholders from the tourism sector, travelled to Brazil for the festivities.
Deputy Minister of tourism, arts and Culture, Mark Okraku Mantey was in participation and spoke on the verifiable ties among Africa and Brazil, featuring the common legacy and the flexibility of the African diaspora.
With countless Brazil’s populace currently distinguishing as black or blended race, there is a developing acknowledgment of the significance of understanding and recognizing the tradition of bondage and African commitments to worldwide culture and civilization.
Last month, Ghana’s High Chief to Brazil, Abena Busia, accentuated the financial capability of social trade, encouraging Ghanaian organizations to jump all over the chance to increment interest in Brazil.
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The Deputy Chief Executive Officer of the Ghana Tourism Authority, Ben Anane Nsiah, also echoed this sentiment at an event in January where Ghana’s participation in the festival was announced. He highlighted the carnival as a platform to bridge educational, trading, and investment opportunities between the two nations.
The Casa de Gana project was an experience during the carnival activities that made a vivid encounter to learn and observe Ghanaian culture. It highlighted music, dance and authentic reconnection.
It was meant to also facilitate dialogue between Ghanaian and Bahian entrepreneurs to build collaboration and cultural exchange. The owner of a popular night club in Osu, Republic Bar, was one of the businesses from Ghana that was there to participate in the festivities.
Ghana’s participation at the Salvador Carnival signifies more than just a cultural showcase. It’s a testament to the start of building bonds between nations, the celebration of shared heritage, and the power of cultural exchange in shaping a more interconnected global African diaspora.
