PANAFEST Foundation Engages Brazilian Embassy Towards Strategic Collaboration for PANAFEST 2025

As part of its strategic stakeholder engagements towards the successful organization of PANAFEST 2025, the PANAFEST Foundation on Tuesday, 13th May 2025, held a consultative meeting with the Embassy of Brazil in Ghana to explore Brazil’s participation and partnership in the upcoming festival.

The meeting, which took place at the Embassy’s premises in Accra at the invitation of the Brazilian Ambassador, was aimed at deepening cultural and diplomatic ties between Ghana and Brazil—two nations united by historical memory and a shared heritage rooted in the transatlantic African diaspora.

The Brazilian side was led by Her Excellency Maiana Madeira the Ambassador of Brazil to Ghana, who was accompanied by her Deputy Head of Mission, her Personal Assistant, the Education and Outreach Officer, and another senior staff member. The PANAFEST Foundation’s delegation included Board Chair, Prof. Esi Sutherland-Addy, Executive Director, Rabbi Kohain Halevi, Administrative Officer, Mr. Christopher Admin, and Marketing and Strategic Liaison, Mr. G. K. Edah.

Opening remarks were made by Her Excellency, who expressed her appreciation for the visit and reiterated Brazil’s commitment to strengthening cultural diplomacy with Ghana. She acknowledged the symbolic importance of PANAFEST as a global platform for reflection, healing, and reconnection, especially within the context of African descendants in Brazil and across the diaspora.

The PANAFEST delegation, led by Prof. Sutherland-Addy and Rabbi Kohain Halevi, gave a comprehensive briefing on the objectives and legacy of the festival. They highlighted the theme for this year’s celebration: “Let Us Speak of Reparative Justice – Pan-African Artistic Activism”, which seeks to center art and culture as vehicles for truth-telling, historical reckoning, and creative resistance.

After the presentations, the meeting explored potential areas of collaboration between the Foundation and the Brazilian Embassy. The following were agreed upon as initial steps towards Brazil’s participation in PANAFEST 2025:

Cultural Performance Showcase:

Brazil will be represented by the acclaimed Afro-Brazilian cultural troupe Ação Zumbi, who will produce and stage a powerful dance drama performance. The piece will reflect on the shared historical experiences of African peoples in Brazil and Africa and celebrate cultural resilience through music, dance, and storytelling.

Participation in Colloquium:

A Brazilian delegate will participate in the PANAFEST 3-day Colloquium, contributing to the intellectual and philosophical discourse around reparative justice, identity, memory, and Pan-African solidarity. The colloquium is a central academic feature of the festival and draws participants from across the globe.

Culinary and Trade Investment Workshop:

The Embassy also committed to organizing a Culinary and Trade Investment Workshop, which will showcase Brazilian cuisine with African roots and explore opportunities for economic, tourism, and cultural exchange between the two countries.

The meeting concluded with a shared sense of excitement and determination to actualize these collaborative actions. The PANAFEST Foundation commended the proactive role of the Brazilian Embassy and emphasized the importance of visible diaspora participation in the festival, especially from Brazil, which holds one of the largest African descendant populations in the world. 

As Ghana continues to position itself as a hub for diaspora engagement and cultural diplomacy, partnerships such as this reaffirm the spirit of reconnection, resistance, and renaissance that underpins PANAFEST.

The PANAFEST 2025 celebration is scheduled to take place from 25th July to 2nd August 2025, with pre-festival activities beginning as early as 19th July. The event promises a rich lineup of cultural, academic, and spiritual programs that advance the global conversation on reparations and the role of artistic activism in social justice.