IRD: Eco-Conscious Citizens and stakeholder reps plant the Reggae Tree in Accra
The Reggae Tree Accra was planted at the KB Asante Memorial Park in Nmai Dzorn on July 1 to mark the first official International Reggae Day (IRD) commemoration In Accra.
The IRD event, which was chaired by Communications Director of Food Sovereignty Ghana Edwin Baffour, was organised by the Eco-Conscious Citizens environmental group in partnership with International Reggae Day UK convener BBM/BMC (BritishBlackMusic.com/Black Music Congress).
The event was attended by a cross section of stakeholders, including representatives of the Nmai Dzorn traditional family, Adentan Municipal Assembly, the Garden Fellowship, Akoras and the Jamaican Consulate.
Ms Fawziya Mumuni, representing the Jamaican Consulate, and Eco-Conscious Citizens founder Awula Serwah, officially planted a tree as a symbolic nod to IRD’s Plant A Tree Challenge. They were supported by representatives of the Nmai Dzorn traditional family and the Adentan Municipal Assembly,
The tree planting took place whilst Rocky Dawuni’s ‘Shade Tree’ song played. Dawuni, a multi-Grammy Award nominated reggae and Afro roots musician and a UN Goodwill Ambassador for the Environment for Africa, was due to lead the tree planting. Unfortunately, due to work commitments in the US, Dawuni, who is the International Reggae Day Ghana Ambassador, could not be there physically and had a video message for the guests.
‘The symbolism of planting this tree is not only in the act, it is about our intentions,” said Dawuni. “So today, let’s all put our intentions into this act of putting a tree on Earth, that is going to survive for generations.”
IRD, marked yearly on July 1, is a global celebration of Jamaican reggae and culture. It was started by Andrea M Davis of Jamaica Arts Holdings in 1994. The inspiration came from a speech Winnie Mandela made in Kingston in 1991 to Jamaican women, crediting reggae music with uplifting the people of South Africa in their fight to end apartheid. It affirms the unbreakable bond between Jamaica and South Africa, which is celebrating 30 years of post-apartheid democracy. This year’s IRD theme is therefore ‘Celebrating 30 Years Of Riddims & Resistance’. Additionally, Jamaica was the first country to ban goods from apartheid South Africa in 1959.
In a video statement Davis explained: “The International Reggae Day Tree Planting Challenge was inspired by Kenyan activist Wangarĩ Maathai, the first African woman and the first environmentalist to win the Nobel Peace Prize.”
The KB Memorial Park is a private green space being developed by Awula Serwah to serve the built-up Nmai Dzorn and surrounding environs. It now claims to be ‘The home of The Reggae Tree Accra.’
“Trees are vital to our health and wellbeing, and the International Reggae Day Plant A Tree Challenge is an excellent initiative encouraging tree planting around the globe” added Awula Serwah.
During the event, a plastic bottle recycle bank was launched to help rid the immediate area of discarded plastics and raise awareness of Plastic Free July.
Plastic Free July is a global movement that encourages individuals to reduce their single-use plastic consumption and contemplate a world without single use plastics. Eco-Conscious Citizens group is asking stores to give their customers the choice of buying non-plastic reusable bags, instead of the free, throw-away single-use plastic bags.
Refreshments were sponsored by JamRock Restaurant & Grill and FoodEeez Corner.
ENDS
Awula Serwah
Eco-Conscious Citizens founder/coordinator
EcoConsciousCitizens@gmail.com
020 1811 702
https://Linktr.ee/EcoConsciousCitizens
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