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Diasporia News of Monday, 25 July 2011

Source: Tsi-Tsi Mashinini, UHURU TIMES

Politician Introduces Ghana's Popular Odwira

Politician Introduces Ghana's Popular Odwira and Adae Cultural Festivals to African-Americans in USA.

By Tsi-Tsi Mashinini, UHURU TIMES

The leader of yet to be launched Uhuru People's Party, (UPP) and Ghana's Presidential Hopeful, "Osagyefo Dr" Kwame Appiah Boateng, popularly known by Ghanaians around the World as "Kwame Mayor", may enter Guiness Book of Records as the first person to introduce the celebrations of Ghana's popular Akan Odwira and Adae festivals to African-Americans.

The first African-American (Odwira) Festival in USA will be held at Leimert Park in Los Angeles, California on September 26, 2011 to October 2, 2011

Also, the first African-American (Adae) Festival will be held at the same venue on January 16, 2012 to January 22, 2012.

Attendance is free !!!, and Vendors are expected to call (+562) 489-4010 or email: KwameMayor@Yahoo.Com, and make reservations, according to the Founder and Executive Director.

The highlights of the Odwira Festival are as follows :

Perform Good Deeds to Neighbours, and everybody in the Community --- (regardless of race and color) : Family Members, Friends, Neighbors, Acquantances, etc; Praying for forgiveness of our sins, Music; Cultural Display of Community Chiefs / Kings and Queens, Drumming and Dancing, Market Festival, Trade Shows, Beauty contest, Merry-Making, Exchange of Gifts, and Inviting People to share Meals of Fried Chicken; Participating in African-American / African Market Festivals, etc, etc

ACTIVITIES OF THE AFRICAN-AMERICAN ODWIRA FESTIVAL : =====================================================

(Monday) : Neighborhood Cleaning

(Tuesday) : Parade of our Community Leaders; Celebreties and / Role Models, or our Nation's Role Models; Floating, Marching Bands; Merry Making

(Wednesday) : Mourning those who passed away in the Community / Neighborhoods; remembering the sacrifices of Soldiers in our Community who fought for America in pursuit of Freedom and Liberty

(Thursday) : Exchange of gifts and food

(Friday) : Day of Celebration with a Grand Durber of Invited Guests and Dignitaries; Motivational Speakers to Extoll Community Values or Family Values

(Saturdays) : Games, example : Soccer, Basketball, Football, Baseball, Tennis; Marathons

(Sundays) : Church Services to pray for our People, our Community and our Nation

* African-Americans may obtain African First Names during the Celebration of African-American Odwira Festival.

Below is full details about the historic Ghana's Cultural events in USA.

(PART I)

CELEBRATE THE FIRST AFRICAN-AMERICAN (ODWIRA) FESTIVAL, TO PURIFY OUR COMMUNITIES ===================================================================================

(ODWIRA IS AN AKAN WORD OF THE PEOPLE OF GHANA WHICH MEANS PURIFICATION).

IT IS A WEEK LONG CELEBRATION TO PURIFY OUR COMMUNITIES OF DEFILEMENT AND CLEANSE OUR SINS, TO ENABLE US TO BECOME CLEAN, STRONG AND HEALTHY, IN PREPARATION FOR A NEW YEAR.

ATTENDANCE IS FREE !!! =====================

>>> (DONATIONS ACCEPTABLE TO SPONSOR FUTURE AFRICAN-AMERICAN ODWIRA FESTIVALS, AND TO SUPPORT AFRICAN VILLAGES FOR INITIATIVES AND EMPOWERMENT (AVIE), A NON-PROFIT ORGANIZATION.

[WHEN]: SEPTEMBER 26, 2011 TO OCTOBER 2, 2011

[VENUE] : LEIMERT PARK, LOS ANGELES, CA, 90008

[TIME] : 9 A.M. TO 6 PM

* PARADE / FLOATING : (12 NOON) --- CRENSHAW BLVD & MARTIN LUTHER KING JR BLVD, TO LEIMERT PARK

* [HIGHLIGHTS OF THE AFRICAN-AMERICAN ODWIRA FESTIVAL] :

Perform Good Deeds to Neighbours and everybody in the Community( --- (regardless of race and color) : Family Members, Friends, Neighbors, Acquantances, etc; Praying for forgiveness of our sins, Music; Cultural Display of Community Chiefs / Kings and Queens, Drumming and Dancing, Market Festival, Trade Shows, Beauty contest, Merry-Making, Exchange of Gifts, and Inviting People to share Meals of Fried Chicken; Participating in African-American / African Market Festivals, etc, etc.

ACTIVITIES OF THE AFRICAN-AMERICAN ODWIRA FESTIVAL : =====================================================

(Monday) : Neighborhood Cleaning

(Tuesday) : Parade of our Community Leaders; Celebreties and / Role Models, or our Nation's Role Models; Floating, Marching Bands; Merry Making

(Wednesday) : Mourning those who passed away in the Community / Neighborhoods; remembering the sacrifices of Soldiers in our Community who fought for America in pursuit of Freedom and Liberty

(Thursday) : Exchange of gifts and food

(Friday) : Day of Celebration with a Grand Durber of Invited Guests and Dignitaries; Motivational Speakers to Extoll Community Values or Family Values

(Saturdays) : Games, example : Soccer, Basketball, Football, Baseball, Tennis; Marathons

(Sundays) : Church Services to pray for our People, our Community and our Nation

* African-Americans may obtain African First Names during the Celebration of African-American Odwira Festival. -----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------

(PART II)

PARTICIPATE IN THE FIRST AFRICAN-AMERICAN (ADAE) FESTIVAL --- TO CELEBRATE THE ACHIEVEMENTS OF AFRICAN-AMERICANS IN THE HISTORY OF UNITED STATES OF AMERICA; TO HONOR AFRICAN-AMERICAN LEADERS AND ACHIEVERS, AND TO CONNECT TO AFRICAN ROOTS AND HERITAGE.

ATTENDANCE IS FREE !!! =====================

>>> (DONATIONS ACCEPTABLE TO SPONSOR FUTURE AFRICAN-AMERICAN ADAE FESTIVALS, AND TO SUPPORT AFRICAN VILLAGES FOR INITIATIVES AND EMPOWERMENT, A NON-PROFIT ORGANIZATION.

[WHEN]: MONDAY, (JANUARY 16, 2012) --- SUNDAY, (JANUARY 22, 2012)

[VENUE] : LEIMERT PARK, LOS ANGELES, CA, 90008

[TIME] : 9 A.M. TO 6 PM

* PARADE / FLOATING : (12 NOON) --- CRENSHAW BLVD & MARTIN LUTHER KING JR BLVD, TO LEIMERT PARK

Warning : Ideas cannot be copied or immitated without permission

===============================================================================================================

================================================================================================================ !!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

The King of Asante People of Ghana : Otumfuo Osei Tutu II Asantehene

---- DURING HIS ROYAL VISIT TO UNITED KINGDOM

ABOVE : The King of Asante People of Ghana, and the Queen of England.

Asante King, Otumfuo Osei Tutu II, the 16th occupant of the Golden Stool

Photos by Isaac Yeboah and David Andoh -----------------------------------------------------------------------------

The Odwira Festival is mostly celebrated by the People of Akropong-Akuapim in the Eastern Region of Ghana. -------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------

* Above : Chiefs and Elders in the Eastern Region of Ghana celebrate Odwira Festival.

!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! !!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

* Sources : Wikipedia

Ghana Tourism Board

* DIRECTIONS TO LEIMERT PARK IN LOS ANGELES, CA, USA ===================================================

Leimert Park Village Crenshaw Blvd. and 43rd Street Los Angeles, CA 90008

* [PLEASE NOTE] : Vendors should call (+562) 489-4010, or write to : 65 Pine Avenue, Suite # 716, Long Beach, CA 90802, USA, to make reservations

>>> BECOME A PROUD SPONSOR OF THE FIRST AFRICAN-AMERICAN / AFRICAN ODWIRA FESTIVAL ====================================================================================

KWAME A. BOATENG, FOUNDER

(FORMER GHANAIAN-AMERICAN LOS ANGELES MAYORAL CANDIDATE, 1993 & 1997)

ALUMNUS - UNIVERSITY OF SOUTHERN CALIFORNIA (USC)

ASPIRING PRESIDENTIAL CANDIDATE, ELECTIONS 2012 --- GHANA, WEST AFRICA

>>> TO SUPPORT AFRICAN-AMERICAN ODWIRA FESTIVAL AND / OR AFRICAN-AMERICAN ADAE FESTIVAL ---

MAKE CHECKS OR MONEY ORDERS PAYABLE TO : ===========================================

AFRICAN-AMERICAN ODWIRA FESTIVAL

(OR) : AFRICAN-AMERICAN ADAE FESTIVAL

*(SUBSIDIARIES OF AFRICAN VILLAGES FOR INITIATIVES AND EMPOWERMENT --- [EIN #: 98-0617723 ])

Kwame A. Boateng, Founder and Executive Director

65 Pine Avenue, Suite # 716 Long Beach, CA 90802, USA

Telephone (+562) 489-4010

[Private Website]: WWW.KwameforPresident.Com

* [Private Email]: KwameMayor@Yahoo.Com