Donna “Donnaray Roc” Ray with Honorary Consul of Jamaica to Ghana Isaac Emmil Osei-Bonsu and Bola Ray at a reception on August 10 at Labadi Beach Hotel in Accra, Ghana.
While helping to promote dance events in North America and Europe, Donna “Donnaray Roc” Ray observed the enthusiastic response to Jamaican dancehall culture. But something was missing – an African presence.
Roc, born in Montego Bay but a longtime resident of New York, wanted to change that. Last September, it launched Black Star Renaissance, an outreach initiative aimed at building ties with the Caribbean and Africa.
The company’s biggest project to date is the Akwaaba Grand Experience, a week-long series of events in Accra, the capital of Ghana. Its summer leg started on August 9 and is scheduled to end on August 16.
Similar conferences – endorsed by the Ministry of Tourism, Arts and Culture of the Republic of Ghana – are scheduled for November and December. They offer visitors an opportunity to develop trade, cultural and sporting links with the West African country.
Roc, who is based in Ghana, considers there the bridge between Africa and its diaspora, particularly Jamaica.
“There is nowhere in this world that is like Jamaica like Ghana, in terms of its roots and heritage connection. Bridging the gap is long overdue. The relationship between Ghana and Jamaica is like a mother who left home and (is) yet to return,” reasoned Roc. “Considering the two resourceful treasures, the indigenous similarities and his compelling identity on the journey of rebirth, I discovered that if Jamaicans knew who they really are, they would do anything to visit Mother Africa.”
She first visited Ghana eight years ago on a “personal renaissance mission”. Roc admits there was initial culture shock, but subsequent visits encouraged him to seek dialogue with government officials about creating an African-Caribbean center with strong financial promise.
The winter editions of the Akwaaba Grand Experience are expected to have a Caribbean flavor, with Jamaican dance groups Roc has worked with in the past likely participants. A delegation from the Jamaican community in Atlanta are also potential participants.
Jamaica and Ghana have a cultural history. Rita Marley lived in Accra for many years; she ran a recording studio there and was involved in several community projects.
In recent years, Ghanaian reggae has spread internationally through acts such as Stonebwoy, who has collaborated with Sean Paul and Tarrus Riley.
A professional choreographer, Roc has worked with a number of dancers in New York and Europe, including Bogle, Ding Dong, Keva and Overmarz. She felt a desire to visit Ghana because of her “Rastafarian family” and Ghanaian friends.
Roc hopes Black Star Renaissance’s debut venture will be even more successful than its groundbreaking dance events.
“The mission is to create authentic collaborations aimed at deepening relations between Africa and the Caribbean Diaspora, with our collective of value-driven partnership entities bringing about the premiere renaissance of cultural exchange,” she said.
