The W.E.B. Du Bois Museum Foundation, in collaboration with Ghana’s Ministry of Tourism, Arts and Culture and the J.J. Rawlings Foundation, hosted a grand celebration in Accra to mark the 40th anniversary of the W.E.B. Du Bois Memorial Centre for Pan-African Culture.
The event brought together diplomats, academics, cultural icons, and Pan-African advocates from around the world to honour the enduring legacy of Dr. W.E.B. Du Bois.
This year’s celebration was especially significant as it coincided with the birthday of the late former President Jerry John Rawlings, under whose leadership the Memorial Centre was inaugurated on June 22, 1985. His pivotal role in establishing the Centre was acknowledged with heartfelt tributes throughout the event.
The programme began with an address from Dr. Kofi Boateng, Chief Financial Officer of the Du Bois Museum Foundation, delivered on behalf of Board Chairman Mr. Daniel Rose. Dr. Boateng reaffirmed the Foundation’s dedication to preserving and advancing Dr. Du Bois’s vision.
A major highlight was the keynote speech by Yaa Asantewaa Agyeman-Rawlings, daughter of President Rawlings, who commissioned the Centre on his 38th birthday. In her speech, she paid tribute to both Dr. Du Bois and her father’s shared Pan-African dream, highlighting Ghana’s historic influence on global Black liberation movements. She referenced icons such as Malcolm X, Martin Luther King Jr., and Muhammad Ali, who found inspiration in Ghana’s post-independence era.
The celebration also saw the formal introduction of Jeffrey Alan Peck, great-grandson of Dr. Du Bois and a current Board Member of the Foundation. He expressed his deep gratitude to the Rawlings and Nkrumah families, as well as to the Ghanaian people, for preserving his great-grandfather’s memory.
Mr. Japhet Aryiku, Executive Director of the Foundation, shared progress made in restoring the Centre, supported by investments from the Foundation’s Board. He also announced an upcoming global fundraising campaign for the next development phase and called for the return of original belongings of Dr. Du Bois and his wife, Shirley Graham Du Bois.
“We invite the public to help us retrieve original furniture, personal items, and archival materials used by Dr. Du Bois and Shirley Graham Du Bois during their time in Ghana,” he urged.
The event welcomed esteemed guests including former directors, academics, and cultural advocates such as Prof. Anne V. Adams, Liberian Senator Conmany B. Wesseh, Dr. Sekou Nkrumah, and Dr. William N.T. Evans-Anfom. Maame Efua Honadjeto, CEO of the Ghana Tourism Authority, delivered remarks on behalf of the Tourism Minister.
A special tribute was held for President Rawlings, culminating in a cake-cutting ceremony to celebrate his birthday.
Attendees were also treated to a preview of a new exhibition featuring rare artifacts from the lives of Dr. Du Bois and Shirley Graham Du Bois in Ghana. The collection includes personal letters, photographs, and political memorabilia, offering intimate insight into their Pan-African journey.
Distinguished guests at the event included Nana Konadu Agyeman-Rawlings, Former First Lady of Ghana; Hiroshi Yoshimoto, Japanese Ambassador to Ghana; Kyrre Holm, Deputy Head of Mission at the Royal Norwegian Embassy; Jonathan Wiesner of the Helping Africa Foundation; and former Minister of Information and Board Member Fritz Baffour. Their presence underscored the global impact of Dr. Du Bois’s legacy.
About the W.E.B. Du Bois Museum Foundation
The Foundation manages the W.E.B. Du Bois Memorial Centre on behalf of the Government of Ghana. Its mission is to honour the legacy of Dr. W.E.B. Du Bois and Shirley Graham Du Bois through restoration, education, and cultural exchange. The Foundation envisions transforming the Centre into a world-class museum and research institution dedicated to Pan-African thought and global Black unity.