In a fun-filled, festive Afrobeats celebration at The Anthem in Southwest D.C. on March 9, Rolling Cocoa music festival fostered unity by sharing glimpses of Ghana’s rich culture through Ghanaian superstars like Stonebwoy, Black Sherif and KiDi.
For Manasseh Laryea, 23, who was born in Ghana and migrated to the U.S. in 2011, the performances allowed others to gain insight into Ghanaian culture.
“Even though it was a Ghanaian festival, it gave different people from different backgrounds [a] chance to come and see Ghanaian others and be able to vibe and enjoy music,” Laryea told The Informer.
For the 23-year-old, who also serves part-time in the U.S. military and studies information technology at Towson University in Maryland, Rolling Cocoa festival took him on a trip down memory lane.
However, Laryea said that even if someone isn’t directly connected to Ghana, listening and watching the artists gives festivalgoers a sense of what it’s like to be back in his home country.
Festival Encourages Black Americans to ‘Come Back Home‘
With many African Americans yearning for an ancestral connection, Ghana has opened its doors to allow Black Americans a home.
2019 marked the 400th anniversary of the forceful arrival of enslaved Africans to the Jamestown settlement, and since that year, Ghana’s “Year of Return” campaign has promoted the country as a homecoming — encouraging African Americans to visit the country and connect with their ancestral roots. Since the launch of the decadelong initiative five years ago, reports reveal more than 1,500 African Americans have moved to Ghana.
Sherif, a BET Hip-Hop 2023 award recipient for “Best International Flow,” encouraged African Americans during his acceptance speech to “come back home,” saying: “You are kings and queens back home.”
After his performance, he told The Informer music will be the reason to bring African Americans back home. Sherif added that people get bored and need a form of entertainment and something that makes sense to them and gives their life meaning.
Plus he had an added bonus for African Americans looking to visit Ghana: “They will dance back home.”
He emphasized that African Americans have an inherent connection to the motherland.
“You’re never lost; your home is on this end. Come back home,” Sherif said.
Sharing African Culture in D.C., the Nation and World
Osita “Duke” Ugeh is the founder and CEO of Duke Concept, organizers of Rolling Cocoa festival. Duke Concept’s next D.C. show at Capital One Arena will be a gospel cultural celebration, Psalm City Music Festival, on April 6.
Ugeh told The Informer he wants to work with sponsors to not only lessen the financial burden, but be able to enhance his productions with more resources, and further promote Ghanaian culture.
The entrepreneur works alongside renowned artists, such as Nigerian superstar Davido, who also fosters mutual understanding of Africa’s many cultures through music and fashion. He said he’s looking to forge partnerships to continue his impactful work in cultural exchange.
Singer KiDi, famous for such songs as the 2021 song “Touch It,” shared the significance of performing in D.C. as a Ghanaian artist.
“This was my first time actually performing [in D.C.], and the energy out of the crowd [was amazing],” KiDi told The Informer.
He said he was super proud of everybody who came out, adding he couldn’t be prouder to be there.
“People will work hard next year to get on the stage,” he said.