Cross-Cultural Exchange as Ghana hosts the First Latin American Studies Association Congress.

 Bienvenida a casa! Saludos!

What happened:

The Embassy of Colombia in Ghana supported a critical intercontinental dialogue, the Latin America Studies Association (LASA) Congress. 

The opening ceremony on the 15th of November, 2023, held at the Maison Francaise- UG, hosted Latin American diplomats, including the Ambassador of Colombia to Ghana, H.E Daniel Garces Carabali, and other members of the diplomatic corps. The Deputy Mininster of Foreign Affairs, Hon. Kwaku Ampratwum Sarpong, and the Deputy Mininster of Tourism, Arts and Culture, Hon Mark Okraku Mantey, expressed how excited they are about the event and what it meant to the ties between Ghana and the Latin American countries, and how the LASA congress impacts on Tourism in Ghana. 

The LASA President, Jo-Marie Burt, welcomed its special guests and attendees, expressed her gratitude and shared the importance of the LASA congress to the region and some of its successes.

Jo-Marie Burt mentioned that "LASA regional congresses are a new opportunity to establish a basis of dialogue and an understanding to develop new communities of knowledge and exchange production and to expand the frontiers of our collaborative research in Ghana by encouraging South-South exchanges amongst scholars, Practitioners and activists. The Regional congresses contribute to the necessary decolonization of knowledge production."

The Ambassador of Colombia to Ghana, H.E Daniel Garces Carabali, also gave guests a warm welcome to the congress, expressing how the LASA congress is a historic landmark in the reparation of countries like Colombia and Ghana, who share a common history of colonization. As the first Colombian Ambassador to Ghana of African descent, he was thrilled to facilitate the first LASA congress in Africa during his first term of office. He believes the congress will strengthen the ties between Colombia and African countries as the congress will impact the political, Academic, economic, social, financial and cultural development of the Continent. 

What are people saying:

Attendees of the opening ceremony of the LASA congress were thrilled about the event and were hopeful for the coming days of the congress. Guests visiting Africa for the first time were pleasantly overwhelmed by the hospitality of Ghanaians and the similarities between Colombian Culture and Ghanaian culture. Students from the University of Ghana's Centre for Latin American Studies were enthralled to be part of and experience a momentous event as part of the studies of Latin American Cultures. 

The Talkative:

Ghana being the first African host nation for the Latin American Studies Association Congress comes as no surprise, as initiatives like Years of Return and Beyond the Return in the last five years have made Ghana the number one destination in Africa for various forms of tourism. Such initiatives have prepared Ghana to welcome and receive congresses, conferences and summits on relevant Political and academic discourse that brings together Diaporians of African descent and their roots. That also strengthens ties with countries and continents that share a common history and advances conversations of Emancipation and reparation on the Continent. 

At the congress, the strong connection and similarities between the Latin Americans of African descent and Ghanaians at the event were evident in how they expressed their cultures through their dressing, mannerisms and hospitality. Apart from the language difference, the beautiful cultural display by the Canalón de Timbiquí cultural group from Colombia accentuated some likeness with the African traditional cultural dance and music. The dazzling array of colourful traditional costumes, drums and other instruments used during their performance was a flashback of an artistic display from an African traditional music group. 

Hopefully, the four-day LASA congress will improve the political, academic and socio-economic collaboration between Colombia and Ghana and, to a large extent, the African and Latin American continents. 

Written by:

Tilly Akua Nipaa (Matilda Mensah Marfo)