Hollywood Celebrities Make A Historic Visit to Ghana

By Max Gapher
March 7, 2019

Boris Kodjoe, a Hollywood actor of Ghanaian descent, afforded his closest friends a once in a lifetime experience when he took them to Ghana's inaugural Full Circle Festival this past December.

The Full Circle Festival was the first of its kind a “coming back home” reconnection to the roots of some of the stars of Black Hollywood in the year in which the world was commemorating four centuries since the beginning of the Trans-Atlantic slave trade. The festival which was organized by the Ministry of Tourism, Arts and Culture feeds into the government’s “Year of Return” which was launched to advocate for the return of African diasporans to return to their roots and ancestry.

Highly celebrated African American musicians, actors and actresses including Michael Jai White, Adrienne-Joi Johnson, Nicole Ari Parker, Anthony Anderson Rosario Dawson, Diggy Simmons, Anthony Anderson, Jidenna, Idris Elba and a host of many others were all present for this exciting journey to Ghana.

The intense inflection captured in the posts of their celebrities on Twitter and Instagram highlights the meaningfulness of their time in Ghana.

Boris Kodjoe reminisced the opportunity to literally walk the path of his deceased father.

AJ Johnson who celebrated her 56th birthday in style at the Royal Senchi in Ghana expressed her gratitude and mentioned she would be back home soon.

The award-winning rapper, Diggy Simons, could not hold his distaste for the media portrayal of the African continent admitting that the experience was truly an eye-opener.

Mike Hill called out all Africans in the diaspora to come back home; “Please visit Ghana and feel what I felt for yourself”

View this post on Instagram

I can’t stress enough how powerful and amazing my experience was in Ghana. The trip was capped by one of the most emotional events of my life, touring the Cape Coast slave castle. This is where many Africans spent their last days in Africa before being shipped off in bondage or killed. Thinking about the atrocities these men, women AND children endured and the conditions they had to stay in makes me emotional even now. It is a memory that will never leave me but also one that pushes me to be a better representative of my people, knowing what my ancestors went thru. I’m so thankful for my time there and the great people, including @cynthiabailey10 & many others that were there. Please visit Ghana and feel what I felt for yourself. 🇬🇭 #fullcirclefestival2018

A post shared by Mike Hill (@itsmikehill) on Jan 7, 2019 at 9:40pm PST

Visiting Ghana for Hollywood actor, Michael Jai White, was also a crowning moment as he was enstooled chief of Akwamu, a privilege he values more than Knighthood by the Queen.

The festival included a breakfast meeting with President of Ghana, H.E. Nana Akuffo Addo, at the Mövenpick Ambassador Hotel Accra. Participants also visit Ghana’s historical and leisure sites that display the nation’s rich culture. By next year, the event is expected to grow in attendance and influence.

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