Abla Dzifa Gomashie, KOD at the Black History Festival
The 4th Edition of the Black History Festival (BHF 2025) was successfully hosted over the weekend at the Georgia International Convention Center (GICC) in College Park City on Friday, March 28, and Saturday, March 29, 2025.
Under the theme of “Bridging Continents, Celebrating Legacies, and Promoting Trade,” the festival showcased the richness of African heritage, culture, economic development, and diaspora engagement while fostering impactful collaborations.
The festival commenced with high-powered dialogues and networking sessions covering key topics such as the legal framework for diaspora integration in Africa, the 2026 FIFA World Cup, cultural exchange and tourism, free zone opportunities in Africa, and other high-level bilateral discussions. The networking welcome reception at the GICC Enclave featured distinguished guest speakers, industry leaders, and key personalities.
The Minister of Tourism, Culture, and Creative Arts, Abla Dzifa Gomashie on her part called on people of African descent to reconnect with their heritage and emphasized the importance of reparations and the African Union’s 2025 theme.
She also highlighted the Black Star Experience, a yearlong initiative aimed at providing the diaspora with greater access to Ghana throughout the year, culminating in the highly anticipated December in Ghana celebrations.
The Black History Summit was officially opened with keynote speeches from prominent figures, including Janelle McKenzie, Mayor Pro Tem, Alex Appau Dadey, Executive Chairman, KGL Group, Kofi Okyere Darko, Director of Diaspora Affairs, Office of the President of Ghana, among others.
The Black History Summit featured industry roundtables on crucial topics, including Bridging the gap between the transatlantic continents for shared prosperity, Cultural diplomacy for diaspora engagement, African heritage, creative, and cultural preservation, dual citizenship opportunities, housing, and business prospects.
This year’s Black History Makers Awards honored some of Georgia’s most distinguished leaders. The Lifetime Achievement Award was presented to Rep. Kim Schofield, Rep. Gabe Okoye, Rep. Segun Adeyina, and Councilman Roderick Gay (Ward IV), City of College Park, and the International Affairs Award was presented to Mayor Khalid Kamau, Mayor of South Fulton City, Georgia.
Organizations that played key partnership roles in the festival were also recognized for their invaluable contributions, which included the KGL Group. JOBerg Ghana Limited, and Appolonia City.
The coveted Star Prize of the Black History Makers Award was awarded to Benjamin Crump, Civil Rights Attorney; Mattie McFadden-Lawson, Civil Leader & Board of Trustee Member, Morehouse College; and H.E. President John Dramani Mahama, President of the Republic of Ghana.
BY Prince Fiifi Yorke