We Journeyed Home to Africa
By Amanda Elliott

The words of the song “Together As Africans“, written by the Black Song And Poetry Ensemble (BSAP) of Contra Costa College, came to fruition February 19, 2003 when we landed Ghana, West Africa. A group of 28 people from Contra Costa College in San Pablo, CA led by Terence Elliott, Chair of the college’s African American Studies Department and musical director of BSAP went to Ghana to participate in the African Heritage Choral Festival February 19-23.

The performance began as soon as we landed at the airport (I also accompanied the group as a vocalist). Once we retrieved our luggage and passed through the gates, television cameras and reporters from the local TV station interviewed Terence and asked the group for an impromptu performance. With a cue from Terence and John Christianson on the trumpet –all other instruments were still packed away—we broke into “Together as Africans”.

It was truly a surreal moment, an impossibility that became a reality.  This was the moment that so many of these young students with limited exposure to worlds outside their Bay Area community had dreamed of.

The talk of going to Africa to participate in the festival began only a short time before the actual event. It was in August 2002 that Mr. Elliott presented the idea to his summer BSAP class. Although it was a great idea, the challenge was raising the money for the trip in such a short period of time. The total cost of the trip per student was $2,100. The group kicked into high gear and raised money by selling their CD “Cultural Consciousness” (which they completed last year), and performing for local events. The Ford Foundation and The City of Richmond also gave significant donations. Finally, with the help of some personal donations from ensemble members and friends and family, they met their fund-raising goal with a little change left over to purchase costumes for their performances.

Television Interview

Once we arrived in Accra, settled into our hotel and had dinner, we were informed that the local TV station wanted us to appear on the “Breakfast Show.” We relished all the attention they gave us, the only thing was that we’d have to leave at 5am to get there in time for the 6am program, it was already past midnight. After a brief meeting it was decided that only a small ensemble could perform for the program.

We finished our rehearsal of “Motherless Child”, about 2am and turned in for a brief nap and a 4:30am wake-up call--all this after a 20-hour flight from San Francisco. We all loaded the bus and were off to the TV station at about 5:20am. We arrived and had a “very brief” rehearsal. After the first break, I led the ensemble in an inspired version of “Motherless Child” with Andrea Lee’s interpretive jazz dance flowing to the tune, it was truly a moving performance, even without all the instruments. Terence accompanied us on the keyboard and John played trumpet. The experience of watching a live TV program in process is always exciting but the thrill of seeing it on another continent where all the people on the program “in-front” and “behind-the-scenes” are African was phenomenal.

BSAP visits a local village

We returned to the hotel, and with a sip of juice and some toast we checked out and were off to our next destination, a visit to a local village. The village we visited Tetteh-gu was a real test in humility for all us “westerners.” They had no running water or electricity but they had order and a close-knit community. The village ambassadors took us on a brief “tour and set-up benches for us inside the elders’ compound. They welcomed us with a short ceremony. Our tour guide Kwesi (James) interpreted for us as the elders poured libations and prayed for our health, wealth and safe travel. We thanked them for sharing their community with us and left gifts crayons, coloring books, writing tablets, pencils, nail polish, jump ropes and other small trinket for the children. We also left a sizable donation for the community about $100 or 85,000 Cedis, Ghanaian currency. The elders said our donation would be used for the children’s school. We took pictures and exchanged warm embraces. One of the BSAP students said he felt like he was “returning home to his village.” Unfortunately, I walked a little ahead with a small group and missed the flurry of spirited drumming and dance by the Tetteh-gu and BSAP, truly a once in a lifetime encounter.

We then set off to the Cape Coast. Luckily it was about a 3-hour bus ride away. We all had a good nap. Later that evening after we settled into what has to be one of the best resorts in the world, The Coconut Beach Resort in Elmina, Ghana. We performed that evening at the Festival’s Opening Ceremony. We were all in a state of awe as we listened to choir after choir, perform perfect renditions of mostly hymns and other religious songs. The Ghanaians pride themselves on their choral expertise and for good reason. They are simply spectacular. Their colorful costumes and spirited singing was uplifting. I think we were all “shaking in our boots”. We didn’t have the large choral presence of the other choirs, our songs were mostly secular and we had live music and dance to accompany the singing. In spite of the technical problems with microphones and other equipment we managed to give a good performance and engage the crowd. They especially liked “Get Down To the Music”. It’s pretty hard not to like that song. If you have the least bit of soul you will want to clap your hands and tap your feet.

To the sound of the bass slap
Funk that’ll make your toes tap
Beat that’ll make your hands clap
Come on let’s get on down, get on down, get on down . . . .

We finally made it back to the Resort, ate dinner, and settled into to our cottage for a much needed, rest. The only problem was that none of us could sleep. We were all too excited. It was almost overwhelming, to touch our feet on this sacred land of our ancestors. To feel the sand between our toes, to “wade in the water of our forefathers.” We were really at home. I felt a peace I’ve never quite experienced before. It was magical. The majesty and beauty of the ocean simply took my breath away. Needless to say we didn’t get much rest. We stayed up sharing our personal journeys--stories of gratitude and hope--feeling the magic of it all. The next morning we had the option of getting up early to go to the Rainforest or sleep in before our trip to the Cape Coast Castle. You can probably guess what most of us chose to do. Only one person in our group made the 8am call for the Rainforest. He was one of the few who actually decided to get a few hours of sleep that night. Luckily he videotaped the excursion, so we at least got to experience some of its beauty.

There were emotional moments at the Cape Coast Castle

We took our time rising that morning and after a couple of hours of leisure around the pool and on the beach, we boarded the bus for the Cape Coast Castle. This was the most heart-wrenching part of the trip. We visited the dungeons where they held our ancestors before they were forced on “slave ships” and transported to the Americas, Caribbean, Cuba and Brazil. The thought of the torture and brutality that was inflicted upon our people brought us a sadness that was simply unspeakable. There was a solemn spirit of grieving that overtook several members. It was unfathomable how people could be forced to exist in such small spaces with little or no ventilation, little or no food and temperatures that exceeded 100 degrees. But somehow they survived, and we survived, and their spirits will endure forever.

Later that evening we performed at the Cape Coast Castle to a packed audience. We looked regal in our white costumes and gave a high spirited and stirring performance It was refreshing to hear some of the Ghanaian groups perform jazz and a nice rendition of “Lift Every Voice and Sing”. Despite our separation, we are, and forever will be connected through our music.

The locals, especially the youth, at the Cape Coast competed for our attention and our money. Everyone had something to sell, T-shirts, necklaces, bracelets, ear rings, hand- bags, small carvings, etc. The most unusual trinket they sold was the seashell. They used a black permanent marker to put a short thank-you note with their name and email on the shell and then asked for your email address. Terence has already received a message from his new “pen-pal” John.

We had one more night at the Coconut Grove Hotel and we savored our last moments there. We relaxed after dinner and had a party/rehearsal for the upcoming show at the National Theater in Accra. What great fun!

The next day we arrived early at the National Theater for a dress rehearsal. We got a chance to see some of the other groups that were performing that night. The show highlighted the diversity of the groups performing in the festival. One group that had all our ears perked sounded a lot like Boys II Men. All the way in Accra, who would have thought!

Our performance that night was everything we hoped it would be and the crowd let us know how much they enjoyed it. We were all on a high. It was the first performance where all the elements came together, the lighting the sound, and the staging. We gave it our all. They loved us and we loved them. We had arrived.

Our final day in Accra was the “icing on the cake.” We attended a church service at one of their “mega” churches. There were at least 1,000 people in the congregation. Emotions ran high in the church as one minister gave the message in English, while another translated it for non-English speaking members to the local dialect. It was a message of hope, “be steadfast and believe.” BSAP closed the service with our song “Faith”. It couldn’t have been more appropriate.

You’ve got to believe in our people
You’ve got to hold on to our struggle
You’ve got to have faith in our nation
Open your heart and let’s begin . . .

They all stood and cheered. They had embraced us as we embraced them. It was a feeling of completion. We’d finally made it home.

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