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Rastafari youth have been advised not to repeat the mistakes of their elders.
An Attorney at Law in the United States of America, Empress Marina Blake said, “the Elders of Rastafari had made some miscalculations and even some grievous mistakes and I am calling on the youths to not repeat our mistakes, but to correct those errors.”
Empress Marina added, “Some of our mistakes included a complete repudiation of formal education, referring to it as colonial indoctrination, not realizing that we could have harnessed that education in such a way as to benefit our community and our race.”
Speaking at the 132nd Birthday Celebration of HIM Haile Selassie I, she said “We took a sledge hammer to something when a more delicate and selective approach would have been better. We also completely rejected working in, or engaging with, the oppressive capitalist. Yet, we were in fact engaged with the capitalist system, but only at the lowest rung.”
She added that “It would have been better to engage so as to gain experience, skills, access to capital which we could then use to fund our revolutionary movement.” She added, “We severely underestimated the importance of money to the revolutionary struggle for zeal without sufficient knowledge is like a runaway horse.”
She concluded that, “We the Elders, in our mistaken approach, inadvertently created a mindset of victimhood, dependency and waiting for a Savior to change our situation, rather than recognizing that we have the power to save ourselves. The responsibility is entirely ours.”
The 132nd Birthday Celebration was organised by the Rastafari Council, Ghana at Rising Phoenix in Accra.
Other speakers at the celebration included Jah Gold, Glen Zebi and the Rastafari Council, Ghana President, Ahuma Bosco Ocansey aka Daddy Bosco. Special guests at the event included Stuart Brown aka African Star Elder Djabi and veteran media personality Black Santino.
There were performances by Osagyefo, Konkarah Jahvybes and Empress Fya Lioness. Other performers were Aklerh, Empress Sancious and Jefri King.
DJs on rotation were Nature One and Ras Nene on the Mighty Black Waves Sound.
Founder and President of Women in Sustainability Africa (WiSA) and General Manager of EIB Network, Rev. (Mrs.) Nana Yaa Serwaa Sarpong, Esq., has been honoured with the prestigious Social Impact Award at the Global Entrepreneurs Awards.
The event was held as part of the Global Entrepreneurship Festival at the JW Marriott Hotel, Cairo, Egypt, from November 6-8.
The Global Entrepreneurship Festival, organisers of the Global Entrepreneurs Awards, is described as the biggest entrepreneurship event in the world, bringing together over 10,000 participants, more than 100 exhibitors, over 60 global speakers and representatives from over 70 countries.
The award recognises her outstanding leadership and the transformative impact of decades of community service through her organisations, the League of Extraordinary Women and Women in Sustainability Africa (WiSA), as well as her work with the United Nations and ministry outreach in empowering people, promoting sustainability, and driving community development across Africa.
Speaking on the recognition, Rev. (Mrs.) Sarpong said she was humbled by the honour and dedicated it to the women and communities across Africa whose resilience and commitment to change continue to inspire her work.
She said the award was a reminder that social impact, sustainability and service remain powerful tools for transforming lives and building a better future for the continent.
Nana Yaa Serwaa Sarpong was recently called to the Bar in Ghana at the 63rd Ceremony organised by the General Legal Council.
By Edem Mensah-Tsotorme
The Deputy Minister for Tourism, Culture and Creative Arts, Yussif Issaka Jajah has engaged the Ghana Culture Forum (GCF) on strengthening collaboration to advance Ghana’s cultural and creative industries.
The engagement, led by the Forum’s Vice Chairman, Ahuma Bosco Ocansey, focused on ongoing programmes, outstanding commitments, preparations towards the Forum’s 15th Anniversary and Ghana Culture Week 2027, as well as opportunities for collaboration on the EU Sankofa I Programme.
Mr. Jajah reaffirmed the Ministry’s commitment to working with stakeholders and addressing concerns raised, stressing the importance of fulfilling commitments to participants and sponsors in cultural initiatives.
The meeting underscored the need for stronger partnerships to promote Ghana’s cultural identity and unlock opportunities within the creative arts sector.
By Edem Mensah-Tsotorme
