A Pan-African Bands Festival and Competition will form part of a
five-day Pan-African cultural celebration to mark this year’s Africa
Unity (AU) Day at the W.E.B DuBois Memorial Centre for Pan-African
Culture in Accra.

AU Day is celebrated throughout the continent every year on May 25. A variety of artistes and bands have been lined up to mark the occasion alongside an art exhibition to be mounted by acclaimed Ghanaian and Nigerian artists.

Artistes and groups scheduled to perform at the Pan-African Bands Festival and Competition on May 24 from 2.00pm include the Abiza Band led by ace guitarist Ackablay, Felix Bell, Ras Ellis, Afro Queens International Band, Azonko, the Abrukusu Band led by Dr Aduonum, Swade led by Nii Alarbie, the Dynamic Melody Band and the Mighty I Am Band from Cape Coast.

May 25 from 4.00pm has been set aside for music recitals by Azonko & the Imaginary Orchestra as well as Kofi Agorsor & the Agorsor Band. Azonko plays the rat-trap cowbell, leg maracash, guitar and sings at the same time.

The highlight of his performance will be a rendition of excerpts from his Ghana’s Golden Orchestral Delights (GGOD) Volume 1 collection. The GGOD is a fusion of symphonic orchestration with indigenous African instruments and idioms.

The art exhibition is from May 22 to May 26 and will feature works by Kofi Agorsor from Ghana and Folusho Akomolade and Kolawole Ogunsunlade from Nigeria.

The AU Day celebration is being organised by the DuBois Centre in collaboration with Azonko Synchronisations Limited.
The DuBois Centre is a source of and a space for productive initiatives among continental Africans, Diaporians and all others who share Africa’s aspirations.

Guest of Honour for the whole celebration is Prof. Emeritus Kwabena Nketia.