Soulful World Of Jazz

HISTORIC SHORES OF GHANA
ACCRA, Ghana - Combine the melodic world of jazz, the historic shores of the West African nation of Ghana and mix in the world's leading destination for jazz enthusiasts - BET Jazz: The Jazz Channel. Groove to the rhythms of Freddie Jackson, Marcus Johnson, Mike Phillips, Angela Bofill, Sy Smith and Ghana national Rhian Benson, and you have the first-ever Ghana Jazz & Heritage Festival, sponsored by the Ghana Ministry of Tourism, Ghana Airways, BET Jazz and produced by BET Event Productions. The event takes place February 23-March 2, 2003 and will span Ghana's coastal landscape, taking in some of the nation's historic castles, forts and sandy beaches as a backdrop for fabulous jazz performances.

For those who partake in the festival, this event will be more than just an opportunity to enjoy some of the world's finest musicians. It also promises to be an educational journey and reflective experience of Ghana, considered by historians to be the natural home of African Americans because of the country's connection to Africans who were enslaved and taken to America, Caribbean and South America. According to local museum records, some 40% of the international slave trade used Ghana as a primary seaport.

"Ghana's link to the history of the slave trade and Africans forced into slavery is an overlooked part of the true heritage of African Americans," said Paxton Baker, Executive Vice President for BET Jazz, BET Digital Networks and President of BET Event Productions. "This festival has been in the making for several months, with the sponsoring partners looking for just the right time, location and talent for this level of cultural celebration. We have all of the right ingredients in place now. This event also marks our second footprint on the African continent and a perfect compliment to our other jazz festival in Durban, South Africa."

King Osagyefuo Ofori Amoatia Panin of the Akyem Abuakwa Tribe of Ghana first invited BET Jazz earlier this year to consider his homeland for a major event that could involve the network, Ghana's private sector and the government in partnership. The result of those discussions has created a festival that will not only educate and entertain, but also devote a portion of its proceeds to Ghana's HIV/AIDS Awareness programs.

Headlining the festival's educational component is perennial jazz power Thelonius Monk, Jr. whose musical repertoire and heritage from his late father reads like a compendium of jazz achievement. Monk and the renowned Thelonius Monk Institute of Jazz will conduct clinics for Ghanaian children and local musicians, sharing their unique perspective on the world of jazz through Africa's native instrument - the drum. The festival's on-stage performances will be led by red-hot jazz newcomers Mike Phillips and Marcus Johnson; R&B superstars Angela Bofill and Freddie Jackson; and five local Ghanaian jazz and indigenous artists, including Rhian Benson.

BET Jazz and BET Event Productions will tape the performances for a concert special to be shown on the network in June 2003 as part of the "Jazz in the Sun" series. Ghana's historic coastline will provide the setting along with historic Cape Coast Castle, Elmina Castle and the capital city of Accra's National Theater.

Cape Coast Castle once served as a slave prison, and is the largest castle on the entire African continent. Historic records indicate that Africans were held in the structure's massive caverns for periods ranging from six weeks to three months, awaiting ships to ferry them into bondage. Elmina Castle was first constructed as a fort, and dates back to 1486. It is the oldest structure of European design in all of Africa. The history of these venues and Ghana's saga as West Africa's focal point of culture will be captured in a documentary narrated by actor Danny Glover which will supplement the performance footage captured by BET Jazz and BET Event Productions.

Ghana Airways is a co-sponsor and the official air carrier for the 2003 Ghana Jazz & Heritage Festival. Specially priced vacation packages - including airfare, hotel accommodations, ground transportation and festival tickets - are available through Alken Tours at 1-800-327-9974.