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.

The President of Ghana, Nana Addo Dankwa Akufo-Addo, signed a historic partnership between the New York-based W.E.B. DuBois Foundation and the Ghanaian government to transform the current W.E.B. Dubois Centre into a modern state of the art museum and complex that would attract visitors and scholars from around the world. The agreement was signed in New York City on Monday September 20th, 2021 and gives the foundation permission to break ground and start building the new multi-million dollar facility.

The new museum will be designed by renowned Ghanaian architect, Sir David Adjaye, who also designed the Smithsonian Museum of African American History and Culture located in Washington, D.C. It will feature a museum, outdoor auditorium and amphitheatre, library, reading room and a guest house for scholars visiting Ghana.

Just before signing, President Akufo-Addo made remarks including encouraging the African diaspora to make Africa their home and contribute to developing the continent making reference to the ‘Year of Return’ and ‘Beyond the Return’ initiatives in Ghana that continue to inspire the diaspora to make Africa home. “The museum will provide Ghana yet another important monument to the collective struggle of the African peoples to get their rightful place in this world,” he said.

The current W.E.B. DuBois Memorial Centre in Accra is where the celebrated civil rights and pan-African leader is buried along with his wife Shirley Graham Dubois. DuBois, who was a great inspiration to Ghana’s first president, Kwame Nkrumah, became a citizen of Ghana and lived there until he died in 1963. The new plans to transform the memorial centre is a big welcome in order to revive it as a place that represents the vision and spirit of Du Bois. Once completed, it will serve as a historic site that will give visitors the opportunity to honour his legacy while connecting to their ancestral roots and embracing the culture and heritage of Ghana.

Executive Director of the W.E.B DuBois Museum Foundation, Japhet Aryiku, is a Ghanaian-American who says she’s been inspired by the writings of DuBois since she was a youth. “The Du Bois Museum Complex will usher in a renewed commitment to building an international treasure and historic memorial honouring the legacy of Dr. Du Bois, and fostering unity among the African Diaspora through a vibrant cultural and research center,” she said.

By: Ivy Prosper