Tens of thousands of people have poured into Ghana’s iconic Black Star Square of Independence to witness the maiden edition of the Black Star Line Festival.
The event – which took place in the heart of the capital, Accra – was founded by the Chicago-born Ghanaian Vic Mensa and featured a host of A-list acts from both sides of the Atlantic in a bid to unite the country with its diaspora.
International stars, including the multiple Grammy Award-winners Erykah Badu, T-Pain and Chance the Rapper, were joined by Ghanaian legends such as Sarkodie, M.anifest and the Asakaa Boys at a concert to mark the event, which has also seen a week-long series of events and panels.
Born to a Ghanaian father, the US rapper Vic Mensa received a rapturous welcome when he told the crowd that he had come home. “I had a dream about connecting the African people of the globe – to unify us as one people.” Midway through his set, Vic brought the popular Ghanaian artist Kwesi Arthur on to the stage and they performed together – much to the delight of the crowd.
Also taking to the stage was the rap legend T-Pain. During an emotional performance – which saw the two-time Grammy winner taking several breaks in between his set to tell the audience how grateful he was to be part of the festival – he performed a host of his iconic hits, including “Got money”, “Good life” and “Buy you a drink”.
While the visiting US stars were welcomed warmly, the real adoration was reserved for Ghanaian rap legend Sarkodie. One of the highlights of his set was when he performed his latest single, called “Country Side” – a vibrant Afrobeat that has already racked up hundreds of thousands of streams online in little over a month.
An estimated 50,000 people attended the Black Star festival, including Hazel – a Ghanaian now living in Chicago. “Today was amazing, beautiful,” she said after the event. “We’re at a place now where Ghana is on top. And I just love how everybody from the diaspora and Ghana have come together to make something magical.”
The event also attracted some noted celebrity attendees. Princess Fathia Nkrumah – the granddaughter of Ghana’s first president, Dr Kwame Nkrumah – hailed the event’s empowering atmosphere. “One of the key factors that brings the black man down is the concept of classism,” she observed. “It’s a tool that’s been used since colonial times to separate us and by proxy prevent us from moving forward, because you can’t move forward if you’re not a united front.”
And Dennis Haze – who travelled from Washington, DC – said the event had helped him connect with his African roots. “It’s beautiful to see the Black American culture and African culture unite,” he said. “I resonate with it, personally because I am African American. I was born in DC, but I’m also Ghanaian. So, I really resonate with this.”
Dave Chappelle – widely viewed as one of the greatest comedians of all-time – also attended. During his visit to Ghana he met with the president, Nana Akufo-Addo, and dignitaries of the government’s diaspora affairs department. On stage, he kept it short and simple by saying, “It’s great to be here” – before introducing the New York-based rapper and podcaster Talib Kweli.
By the time Chance the Rapper performed it was almost dawn in Ghana’s capital. However, tens of thousands of people had still patiently waited to hear their favourite songs from the Chicago-based star. Arguably, the highlight of the event was towards the end of the show when Vic Mensa joined Chance on stage to perform their song “Cocoa Butter Kisses”. Earlier, the star’s uncle Sammy Kofi – of the legendary Ghanaian group Okukuseku – had also performed.