In a powerful tribute to one of the most influential African American intellectuals, the great-grandson of W.E.B. Du Bois, Jeffrey Alan Peck, visited Ghana to honor his great-grandfather’s enduring legacy. The visit marked the official unveiling of W.E.B. Du Bois’ name on the Sankofa Wall at the Diaspora Africa Forum, a space dedicated to recognizing the significant contributions of the African diaspora to global history and culture. The ceremony took place on August 30th with an intimate group of invited guests.

W.E.B. Du Bois was a pioneering scholar, civil rights activist, and pan-Africanist who spent his final years in Ghana, where he continued his work to uplift people of African descent. His great-grandson’s visit serves as a reminder of Du Bois’ deep connection to Ghana and his vision of African unity and empowerment.

The Sankofa Wall, located at the Diaspora Africa Forum in Accra, is a symbol of the bridge between Africa and its diaspora, and Du Bois’ inclusion is a reflection of his lifelong dedication to building those bonds. This historic moment not only honors the legacy of Du Bois but also highlights the continued significance of his work in deepening the connections of the global African community.

New York City Mayor-elect Eric Adams wrapped up his trip to Ghana yesterday with a visit to the Diaspora African Forum and the W.E.B DuBois Centre.  He made this trip to Ghana despite global concerns over the Omicron Covid-19 variant that has resulted in some African countries being put on travel bans around the world.  “I made a promise to myself that I would visit Ghana following the 400-year anniversary of slavery in America and the election, to show how far we have come and remember how far we still must go,” he told the NY Post before he travelled to Ghana.

With the mayor-elect having sited Ghana’s Year of Return campaign, it was important for the Beyond the Return Secretariat and Ghana Tourism Authority to connect with the incoming mayor during his time in Ghana.  The Diaspora African Forum (DAF) was the setting for a short ceremony that welcomed Mayor-elect Adams and his partner, Tracy Collins.  In attendance at the event were the Mayor of Accra, Elizabeth Sackey, Vice Chairperson of African Union Commission, H.E. Thomas Kwesi Quartey, H.E. Ambassador Erieka Bennett, Director of Beyond the Return Secretariat, Annabelle McKenzie, Head of the Diaspora Coalition, Rabbi Kohain Halevi, President of the African American Association of Ghana, Jessica Ayivor, and members of the diaspora community were in attendance. 

Mayor-elect Adams was given the opportunity to honour his mother with a plaque of her name which will be placed on the Sankofa Wall among many other notable people from the continent of Africa and the diaspora.  “This is an extremely significant moment for me. This is a 35-year journey that I am bringing to completion,” Mayor-elect Adams said. While holding the plaque with his mother’s name, Dorothy Mae Adams, he recounted the story about his 1975 arrest in South Jamaica Queens, being assaulted by police officers and his mother’s response to him when he was in the jail cell. “I knew that I sold my mother into emotional slavery because of my actions, and I said someway somehow I was going to buy her freedom back.”  He told the story of becoming a captain in the same department in which he was arrested, to becoming a State Senator, and eventually where he is today. “My mother saw me break the law, she saw me enforce the law and then she saw me go to Albany and write the law,” he continued.

The Sankofa Wall is located on the grounds of the Diaspora African Forum and includes the names of people like Harriet Tubman, Congressman John Robert Lewis, Chadwick Boseman and Bob Marley.  Although there are names of high-profile people, the wall also includes the names of those who never had the chance to return to the soils of Africa.  People place the names of deceased family members who made a significant impact in their lives to honour them.  “Placing her name on this wall among our ancestors is not only the sum of those who are part of their lineage but it’s the sum of our experiences,” Mayor-elect Adams said. “We’re all connected.”

Gifts were presented to the mayor-elect from the African American Association of Ghana.  A Citation was presented by the Director of Beyond the Return and Year of Return, Annabelle McKenzie. “I’m here to present a citation on behalf of Beyond the Return, Ghana Tourism Authority and the Ministry of Tourism, Arts, and Culture,” she said.  Head of the Diaspora Coalition and Member of the Beyond the Return Steering Committee, Rabbi Kohain Halevi joined her in presenting the citation.

The mayor-elect and his wife also had the opportunity to visit the final resting place of Pan-African leader W.E.B. DuBois. After laying a wreath in his honour he shared a few words. “The energy and spirit of our leader who understood the connection between our ancestors here and our ancestors that were born on the soils of America…I’m happy to reunite with his spirit here in Ghana.” Mayor-elect Adams was truly grateful for the day and the accomplishment of making the journey to Ghana.  “I appreciate everyone and the energy here.” 

Before leaving the Sankofa Wall he said, “Let’s start the journey so that we can make sure that never again will we allow others to sell us into slavery and never again will we sell ourselves into slavery. We are free,” he said. “So, I thank you, for allowing me to come into a house that I have admired my entire life and to be here and have my mother join this wall you have blessed me.”

Beyond the Return is the follow up to the successful ‘Year of Return 2019’ campaign.  It’s a 10-year initiative with the theme, ‘A Decade of African Renaissance’ with a goal to continue engaging with the global diaspora community.  Its foundation is build on seven pillars that address the needs of of both the diaspora and Ghanaians.  The pillars are Experience Ghana, Celebrate Ghana, Invest in Ghana, Diaspora Pathways to Ghana, Brand Ghana, Promote Pan African Heritage and Innovation, and Give Back Ghana.  For more information on the project visit the website at www.beyondthereturngh.com.

Imagine seeing the names of your deceased family members immortalized among the names of some of the most significant people in Black history. That’s the experience that was given to a group of African Americans who travelled to Ghana on a wellness tour. The Sankofa Wall is located at the Diaspora African Forum, behind the W.E.B. DuBois Centre. It features many notable people from the African diaspora and continental Africans who made a significant impact in the world. Last year new names were added to the wall including civil rights leaders, Congressman John Robert Lewis, Congressman Elijah Cummings, George Floyd, who died at the hands of a Minnesota police officer and Actor, Chadwick Boseman, best known for his role the movie ‘Black Panther’, who died from a battle with colon cancer, were also added to the wall.

H.E. Ambassador Erieka Bennett is Head of Missions at DAF and has been instrumental in having the names of important people in Black history recognized in Ghana. On March 24th, Ambassador Bennett held a small ceremony for Holistic Health Practitioner, Queen Afua and her wellness delegation to welcome them to Ghana and to help them honour their family members by giving them a symbolic place in Ghana. Political Analyst and Attorney, Angela Rye, was among those who were given name plates of their deceased relatives to add on the Sankofa Wall.

“My grandfather said he was going to come back as a crow when he died,” said Rye.  “Every time a crow is present, what I know from crow medicine is that they are the bringers of truth and that’s what my name means.” she said. “Every time I see a crow it’s confirmation…but today, there are three members of my dad’s side of the family that I’m putting up today and right before Leroy finished [speaking], three crows came.” She smiled as she held the name plates.  

For African Americans, and others in the global African diaspora, the connection to Africa is hundreds of years in the making. The knowledge of your ancestors having gone through the struggle of the trans-Atlantic slave trade is filled with pain yet there is a yearning to learn more of the history. Today, African Americans continue to suffer the adverse effects and trauma associated with racism.

This symbolic gesture at DAF, provided a sense of peace for everyone knowing that their relatives names would be on the continent forever. “We’re so honoured that you’ll put your ancestors name on the Sankofa Wall,” said Ambassador Bennett. “Sankofa as you all know means come back to your roots and a lot of your ancestors did not get the opportunity to come to Africa, but their name is now in Africa.”

“I am the sixth child of Dorothy and Joseph Campbell. Two people who were born too soon, in the history of our people. They didn’t get to see the success that I became,” said World-renowned Artist, Leroy Campbell as he held his parents names in his hand. “Their spirit, this woman and this man, who were robbed from being the people they should have been, without the interruption of slavery.” He and the others were all experiencing emotion as they realized their family members’ names would be in Africa forever.

They will return to the Diaspora African Forum (DAF) at the end of their journey in Ghana to see the names affixed to the Sankofa Wall.