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Ghana: Fisk Varsity Singers Impress Asantehene

Ghanaian Chronicle (Accra)

12 July 2007
Posted to the web 12 July 2007

Sebastian R. Freiku
Kumasi

arTHE RENOWNED Jubilee Singers and ace choir of the Fisk University from the USA who introduced the world to the Negro spirituals last Saturday joined a number of local choirs in the Kumasi metropolis to perform at the St. Cyprians Anglican Cathedral in Kumasi.

The group are on a three-day choral concert in Accra, Kumasi and Cape Coast as part of the activities lined up by the United States Embassy in Accra in celebrating 50 years of a close relationship with Ghana under the theme: "Ghana-US at 50:Looking back, moving forward".

While in Kumasi, the group treated the audience including the Most Rev. Peter Kwasi Sarpong, Archbishop of Catholic Diocese of Kumasi, Metro Chief Executive, Miss Patricia Appiagyei, Rt. Rev. Yinka Sarfo, Bishop of the Kumasi Diocese of the Anglican church, Oheneba Adusei Poku, Akyempimhene of Kumasi and Representative of the Asantehene and the Atipimhene, Oheneba Agyemang Badu who is also the acting Chancellor of the Kumasi Diocese of the Anglican Church to inspiring Negro Spirituals over a period of two and half hours at the St Cyprian's Anglican Cathedral Church.

Also performing alongside the Fisk Jubilee Singers were the St. Cyprian's Anglican Cathedral Choir, the 60-member all men St. Peter's Basilica Choir, Wesley Methodist Cathedral Choir and the Amamereso Youth Choir of the Centre for National Culture.

The visit of the Jubilee Singers, the first ever to Ghana, coincides with the 135th anniversary this year of its founding in 1871. The US Ambassador in Ghana, Miss Pamela E. Bridgewater has referred to the long enduring and expressed her delight in having the group in Ghana to share their spiritual, cultural and educational experiences with Ghanaians as part of the Embassy's celebration of Ghana 's 50th Golden Jubilee anniversary.

Mrs. Boadicea Prempeh, Executive Secretary of the Kumasi Diocese of the Anglican Women's Ministry, on behalf of the St. Cyprian's Anglican Cathedral Church, presented gifts to Mrs. Hazel R. O'Leary, President of the Fisk University through Mr. Paul T. Kwami, the Ghanaian Musical Director and Leader of the of the group in the presence of Mrs. Dehab Ghebreab, Cultural Affairs Officer of the Public Affairs section of the American Embassy in Ghana.

Mr. Kwami thanked the local church for the gifts.

All members of the group also received a parcel of gift from the host church.

The 35-member group had earlier on called on the Asantehene, Otumfuo Osei Tutu II at the Manhyia Palace where they thrilled the Ashanti King with their kind of special choral music.

The King in turn feted the group who also visited the Manhyia Palace Museum.