The Black Star Line Summit, powered by Revolt, hosted a Pan-African Conference was successfully held at the Accra International Conference Center yesterday, [3rd January 2022].
Panelists included Vic Mensa, Chance The Rapper, spoken word poet J. Ivy, filmmakers Coodie & Chike, architect David Adjaye, Ghanaian politician Samia Nkrumah, and more.
According to organizers of the conference, the Black Star line festival is “intended to be a beacon for the total liberation of all African peoples from the continent, to the America’s to the islands back to Europe and beyond.”
The first discussion held at the conference was on the topic; Pan Africanism with daughter of Ghana’s first President, Madam Samia Nkrumah and Chaka.
Other topics discussed included, film and it’s impacts on our narrative, conversations on breaking barriers and paving the way in the music industry.
Speaking at the Conference yesterday, founder of the Black Stars Line festival Chance the Rapper recounted his visit to the continent and subsequently Ghana and how himself together with his co-founder, Vic Mensa were inspired by works of Marcus Garvey towards creating a network for black people globally.
Addressing participants on the topic; “diasporic connections through music-ideologies behind the Black Star line”, Chance the rapper explained how he and his team have “grown more curious and committed to fostering connections between Black people globally using art and expression”
“The Black Star Line was a shipping company started in 1919 by Marcus Garvey with the goal of creating a network for black people globally, starting with the US and the Islands and eventually going down to South America with the idea in mind of creating trade and relations with West Africa for black folks of the diaspora. I was really inspired by his work and some of the ideas and opinions that he had on us all being all one people. So when I came to Ghana for the first time in January I was already inspired by Marcus Garvey and Garveyism. I learned a little bit of family history regarding Garveyism and how it connected to their faith.” Chance the rapper said.
According to the founders, the Black Stars Line festival also aims to foster a conversation between black artists of the globe and the African continent.
