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Diasporia News of Wednesday, 18 July 2007

Source: organizers of ghanafest, chicago.

Chicago Ghanafest07 - The Biggest Yet?

Live Band & Live Kente weaver from Ghana
Chicago,July 11 2007- Chicago, the windy city of the Midwest will be buzzing and sizzling hot with the most spectacular and largest Ghanaian cultural festival in the diaspora on July 28 2007 at the historic Washington Park. The Organizers of the festival, The Ghana National Council of Metropolitan Chicago has projected a record patronage this year.

If you have not yet planned your 2007 summer vacation, start planning now; start packing your bags and get ready to head towards Chicago. Treat this day as a day of opportunity to mingle and exchange greetings with past school mates and friends you have not seen for a very, very long time.
This years' celebrations is packed with exciting activities for the family. A cultural treat your family will forever remember. It will be reminiscent to the older generation of Ghanaians and educational to the youth, especially those who have never seen Ghanaian culture live on such a grand scale. An experience that will be an everlasting memory and a connection with their roots!
Don't miss the opportunity to find out why over fifteen thousand people gather in Chicago every year to experience this phenomenon called GHANAFEST,the first and original , that keeps growing every year!
Mr. Fritz Kwabena Poku, former Ghana's Ambassador to the United States had one thing to say when he was caught in the moment at Ghanafest, "wow, this is the greatest festival I have ever seen!"
The organizers of Ghanafest, an outdoor exhibition with a makeup theme of a Cultural Exposition, are taking a different approach to the festival this year.The Ghanaian musician Union who have been missing in previous years' will perform at the festival. They Union is made up of all Ghanaian bands in the Chicago area. They are led by the talented Dan Boadi , Joe Atiso , Sam Ghansah and Nii Amanor,( The Keybard Wizard!)As usual, the top DJ's in Chicago will be there to show their spinning skills!
Lovers of Gospel Music will not be disappointed at the festival as Nat Awuni, Aziza, Diana Akiwumi, Stella Dugan and Davis Wiafe will be at Ghanafest for the first time to roar the crowd in Chicago with their marvelous dances and beautiful voices. It will be a show reserved for the early birds since their performance is scheduled to come off at the early stages of the program.
Those who have not seen live Kente weaving will have the opportunity to witness one this year at Ghanafest. The renown Ghanaian Kente weaver , Mr. Asare Kweku, will be handling the 'loom" thought by historians to have been developed around the 17th century, as usual with mastery and dexterity. You may have the chance to try your hands on the loom! You cannot miss out on this!
As Usual, the organizers have lined up a number of Dignitaries to grace to occasion. The latest includes, Honorable Dr.Paa Kwesi Nduom,member of Parliament and the outgoing Indefatigable Minister of Public Sector Reform ;and the Brong-Ahafo Regional Minister, Honorable Ignatius Baffour Awuah.
The keynote speaker is Chicago's own Dr.John Awah, owner of Korle-Bu Medical Center in Chicago.
Mr. CNN, will be a special Ghanaweb photo-journalist at the festival. Other media that has expressed interest in covering the festival includes, Chicago's only "mouth piece" The African Spectrum, The Africast T.V Networks, GTV, BET and other FM Radio stations in Ghana.
Members of the public who patronize Ghanafest raffle tickets will have a lot of items to try their luck on this year as the GNC has approved a polaroid TV as the first prize and many other consolation prizes that includes DVD and CD players.
Art and Craft Vendors will pay $70.00 per 10 by 10 inches booth space whilst corporate spaces will go for $500.00 .
DJ's and musicians attending the festival and want to participate should email CBOAHENE@sbcglobal.net to register ASAP.

There will be a community Church Service on Sunday, July 29 2007 at 1937 S. Michigan from 1 PM to 3 PM.
For more information about Ghanafest 2007, visit ghananationalcouncil.org.