Emeritus Prof JH Nketia
THE KWABENA Nketia Centre for Africana Studies of the African University College of Communications (AUCC) will on Wednesday hold a festival to celebrate the 96 years achievement of Emeritus Professor Kwabena Nketia at the Banquet Hall of the State House, from 5.30pm to 8.30pm.
Under the distinguished patronage of His Excellency, Nana Addo Dankwa Akufo-Addo, President of the Republic of Ghana, the event will seek to unpack and memorialize the scholarly contributions of Professor Kwabena Nketia in the fields of   African culture, history, language, music and dance, as well as their holistic cross-cultural relevance and global import.
The celebration will also be used to fundraise GH¢500,000 through donations, sale of books, sale of portraits of Emeritus Professor Nketia, individual and corporate donations and sponsorships.
The fund raising is aimed at expanding the African Library facilities at Kwabena Nketia Center for Africana Studies: collate, digitize, and preserve his numerous archival files and field notes on Ghanaian culture, history, language, arts, material culture, etc. assemble and digitize his 80 Classical African Music Albums: and to disseminate his works to empower Ghanaians to use them as vessels of national consciousness and conscientization.
Otumfuo Osei Tutu II, Asantehene, will be the Special Guest of Honour for the celebrations while former Presidents J.J. Rawlings, J.A. Kufour and John Dramani Mahama will be Special Guests.
Other invited guests include Members of the Council of State, National House of Chiefs, Chiefs from the Ga State, Ministers of State, Members of Parliament, Chief Justice, Members of the Judiciary, Vice-Chancellors, UTAG and Africana Studies Departments of Ghanaian Universities.
Also invited are the Christian Council of Ghana, Muslim Council, Methodist Church, Presbyterian Church, Catholic Bishops Conference, Ghana Pentecostal Council, E.P. Church of Ghana, Ghana Journalists Association, MUSIGA, Association of Ghana Industries, Ghana Association of Bankers, National Insurance Commission, Ambassadors of Foreign Missions, Academics, and other important personalities.
Minister of Tourism, Culture and Creative Arts, Mad. Catherine Afeku, will deliver an address while the Founder of the African University College of Communications, Mr. Kojo Yankah, will deliver special remarks.
Chairman for the occasion is Prof. Kofi Asare Opoku, Former Director of the Kwabena Nketia Center of Africana Studies.
Professor Kwabena Akurang-Parry, the current Director of the Kwabena Nketia Center of Africana Studies will give an overview of the festival.
Performing at the occasion would be the Immigration Band, Classical Music Group led by Andrew Agyemfra-Tete, Traditional Music and Dance Group, Harmonious Choir, Ghana Dance Ensemble, and Agya Koo Nimo, among others.