“Beyond 400 Years: Reaching Across Continents into the Future”
9 Days, 8 Nights Package
July 25 – August 3, 2019

The Pan African Historical Theatre Festival (“PANAFEST”) is a cultural event held in Ghana every 2 years for Africans and people of African descent. It was first held in 1992. The idea of this festival is to promote and enhance Unity, Pan Africanism, and the development of the continent of Africa. In addition, it celebrates the presence, resilience, and strength of our people, and serves as a cultural vehicle for bringing Africans on the continent and in the Diaspora together around the issues raised by slavery which remain suppressed.

Thursday, July 25

Day Of Our Return

We ​“return”​ to the ​Motherland​ from various cities in the US and Canada. ​Flights are booked separately​ at your own expense!

Day 1: ​Friday, July 26

Welcome To Accra, Ghana!

Arrive at Kotoka International Airport in Ghana. We will be picked up and whisked off to our ​4-star, black-owned​ overnight accommodations at ​The African Regent Hotel​. Upon arrival, we will check-in and relax a bit. After a long flight I’m sure everyone will be exhausted. Therefore, you may take the remainder of the day to relax and enjoy th amenities of the hotel at your leisure.

Accommodation: ​The ​African Regent Hotel

Meals: N/A

Day 2: Saturday, July 27

Accra City Tour

After breakfast we will depart on our ​Accra City Tour (GS t-shirts will be worn on the tour)​. We will take a brief break during our tour and enjoy lunch. Upon completion of the tour, we will return to our hotel. At approximately ​7 pm, we will meet in the Main Dining Hall​ for our ​Welcome Dinner​. We ask that you ​please wear a black or gold dress​ at the​ Welcome Dinner​.

Accra City Tour includes​:

Art Village for Drumming Lessons

Kwame Nkrumah

Memorial Park Independence Arch

WEB DuBois Centre for Pan African Culture

Accommodation: ​The ​African Regent Hotel

Meals: Breakfast, Dinner

Day 3: Sunday, July 28

Kumasi City Tour

After breakfast, we head out to the ​Ashanti region.​ Upon arrival, we will go on a Kumasi City Tour. ​(GS t-shirts will be worn on the tour).​ After our tour, we will check-in at ​the 4-star Golden Tulip Kumasi City Hotel. Set in lush tropical gardens in the heart of historic Ashanti, Regional Capital of Kumasi, you have an assurance of a dynamic experience in luxury. https://kumasi-city.goldentulip.com

Kumasi City Tour includes​:

Manhyia Palace

Komfo Anokye Sword Site

Kejetia Market

Accommodation: ​Golden Tulip Kumasi City Hotel

Meals: Breakfast

Day 4: Monday, July 29

Activities with the Ashanti

After breakfast we will have the following activities. Today is about total immersion as we learn of the vast history of the Ashanti empire and take part in a A​kan Naming Ceremony.​ ​Duly note,​ a ​white dress is required​ ​for the ​Akan Naming Ceremony​. We will return to our hotel after the day’s activities to relax and prepare for another day. https://kumasi-city.goldentulip.com

Activities with the Ashanti

Kente Weaving

Adinkra Class

Akan Naming Ceremony

Cocoa Tour

Accommodation: ​Golden Tulip Kumasi City Hotel

Meals: Breakfast

Day 5: Tuesday, July 30

Cape Coast Tour

After breakfast we depart for Elmina. Today we will have a private tour of the slave dungeons. This will be an emotional experience as ​you will experience the physical history of the slave trade, the impact of which is still felt beyond the shores of Africa today. The Elmina Castle is one of the 30 slave forts along the coasts of Ghana. It was built in 1482 by Portuguese traders on the site of a town called Amankwaor Amankwakurom. It was the first European slave-trading post in all of sub-saharan Africa.

After our tour, we will check-in at the Coconut Grove Beach Resort where you will have time to relax and enjoy dinner at your leisure. The Coconut Grove ​has become an important landmark in Elmina, in the town that has the historic world heritage Elmina Castle & St Jago Fort. It has become the hotel of choice for rest and relaxation by personalities such as the Crown Prince of Holland, the Secretary General of the U.N., Will Smith, ministers of states from the neighboring countries, heads of missions and other distinguished guests. https://coconutgrovehotelsghana.com/beachhotel/

Cape Coast Tour includes:

Slave Market/Cemetery @Manso

Slave River

Tour UN World Heritage site of Cape Coast Castle

Accommodation: ​Coconut Grove Beach Resort

Meals: Breakfast

Day 6: Wednesday, July 31

Kakaum National Park & Reverential Night

After breakfast we will depart for ​Kakaum National Park​ for a canopy walk. After lunch, we will return to our hotel to relax before the ​Reverential Night​ commences. https://coconutgrovehotelsghana.com/beachhotel/

Reverential Night​ – ​Reverential Night is the most sacred programme on the PANAFEST schedule. It will be be held in Cape Coast beginning with a candlelight procession and will move down Commercial Street in Cape Coast to the Castle/Dungeon entrance to be met by the Omanhen and Elders of Oguaa. Wreath laying at the shrine of Nana Tabir will be done accompanied by spiritual soloists. After the wreath laying, a full-scale tribute to the ancestors will be rendered by carefully selected speakers and performing groups. The Declaration of Emancipation will be read at midnight.

Please dress in white attire for this important occasion

Accommodation: ​Coconut Grove Beach Resort

Meals: Breakfast

Day 7: Thursday, August 1

Emancipation Day

We will enjoy breakfast before departing for a full day of Emancipation activities.

Today is Emancipation Day at Assin Manso Slave River. Commencing at 11am, we will witness a full day of ritual activities (solemn moments) paying homage to our ancestors who were swept away from these shores by the slave trade. A ​Solemn Durbar of the Chiefs and People of Assin Manso​ will be held to give reverence to those ancestors who suffered the horrifying journey of the slave route and gave up their lives far away from their homeland. It is proposed that solemn forms of music and dance are performed both by local and Diasporan performers. E.g. The ​Akan Atopre​ and​ Asafo, the Jamaican Aben​ .etc. The walk to the “Donkonsuo’​ and the rites at the river will be undertaken by participants and traditional officiants. It is proposed that participants are taught to join in simple Asafo songs on the way to the river which will make it participatory and highly meaningful. It is further proposed that a stone wall sepulcher for the entombing of the ashes of Diasporans wishing for their remains to rest in the special graveyard at ​Assin Manso​ be built and announced so that burial rites involving both some Diasporan and Ghanaian rites can be conducted on the way to the ‘​Donkonsuo​.’ https://coconutgrovehotelsghana.com/beachhotel/

Accommodation: ​Coconut Grove Beach Resort

Meals: Breakfast

Day 8: Friday, August 2

Depart to Accra

Today we depart to Accra. Upon arrival we will check-in again at The African Regent Hotel. Take this time to relax and enjoy the amenities of the hotel at your leisure or explore Accra. http://www.theafricanregenthotel.com/​

Duly note: Any activities you participate in outside of the GS Itinerary are at your ​own risk and expense​. GS will not be held liable ​under any circumstances​.

In addition, please do not rely on or use our tour guides/vendors to assist you with your personal requests during our visit. We respectfully ask that you use the hotel concierge services for those requests. Thank you.

Accommodation: ​The ​African Regent Hotel

Meals: Breakfast

Day 9: Saturday, August 3

Day of Our Departure

After breakfast, we will depart on our early morning flight to the US. If you have a later flight you will be able to store your luggage after check-out at the hotel.

Accommodation: ​The ​African Regent Hotel

Meals: Breakfast

Questions?

If you have any questions or concerns please sent an email to:

bookings@globetrottingsistarsllc.com

We are happy to answer any questions you have. You will have a response within 24 hours.

Disclaimers:
GS reserves the right to make changes to the itinerary, if necessary, without notice.

This document is property of Globetrotting Sistars LLC and is not for outside distribution

Any activities you participate in outside of the GS Itinerary are at ​your own expense and risk​. GS will not be held liable under any circumstances.