Shabazz carries beat to Ghana!

Ghana Ghana Ghana


Dr. Shabazz in front of the Accra International Conference Center in 1998!

The Africa Union just celebrated its 50th anniversary last month as African dignitaries came from around the continent to chart a course for the next 50 years. Started as the Organization of African Unity in 1963, the idea was inspired by Dr. Kwame Nkrumah’s idea of a united Africa. In a 1958 speech to the African People’s Congress, he gave a vision of the “United States of Africa”. Dr. Nkrumah had just led Ghana to its independence in 1957 and while his vision has yet to be realized, Pan-African unity remains the platform of progress.

Part of the vision of The Chess Drum is similar and Pan-African in its essence… to connect chess players of the Africa Diaspora and to show the world the accomplishments of players of African descent. Conversely, the idea is also to expose the African Diaspora top-level events. The Chess Drum will return to the land of the Black Star and hopes to visit with the chess community, report on the activities, and perhaps get some first-hand interviews.

Stay tuned!!

Daaim Shabazz having just arrived in Ghana.
Daaim Shabazz having just arrived in Ghana, June 25th, 2013.

24 Comments

  1. Pingback: Daily Chess News Links June 25, 2013 | blog.chesscafe.com
  2. Daaim,

    You appear to be a part of the painting!

    Have fun and please convey best wishes to our brothers and sisters from Ghana on behalf of the Jamaican Chess fraternity.

    1. Last night me and a Ghanaian friend were having a conversation about various Caribbean countries and the African ties. He spent some time in Jamaica and we were discussing similarities of cuisine and culture. It was interesting.

      I will post pictures here for those who may not have access to Facebook.

  3. Photos from Ghana (June 25, 2013)

    Welcome!

    Welcome!

    Daaim Shabazz having just arrived in Ghana.

    Daaim Shabazz having just arrived in Ghana, June 25th.

    Students from Florida A&M University in Ghana.

    Students from Florida A&M University in Ghana.

    The ubiquitious ads around Ghana.

    The ubiquitious ads around Ghana.

    Happy!

    Happy!

    Customs

    Customs

    Customs

    Yussif is leading the contingent.

    My workstation for two weeks... laptop, blender, travel iron, herbal supplements, dried fruits and bug repellent.

    My workstation for two weeks… laptop, blender, travel iron, herbal supplements, dried fruits and bug repellent… among other things.

  4. LOL….. that was funny Ian. Daaim , have a good trip and looking forward to the tournament report.

  5. Photos from Ghana (June 26, 2013)

    Dr. Yussif plotting out the schedule.

    Dr. Yussif plotting out the schedule.

    brunch

    brunch

    Junior Yussif brings greetings...

    Junior Yussif brings greetings…

    ... then passes out a kola nut.

    … then passes out a kola nut for us to chew as part of tradition.

    Quite bitter with a smooth aftertaste.

    Discussion about local customs.

    Discussion about local customs.

    Daaim Shabazz

    Group shot with the Chief

    Good to be back in Ghana!

    Good to be back in Ghana!

  6. Photos from Ghana (June 27, 2013)

    University of Ghana at Legon Guest Center

    My residence for two weeks.

    UG-Legon teaching hospital

    Streethawkers

    A common site throughout Ghana.

    One of the many beautiful billboards throughout the country.

    One of the many beautiful billboards throughout the country.

    A streethawker is yet to get his day started.

    A streethawker is yet to get his day started.

    Very interesting office building.

    Very interesting office building

    Printex

    Samsung is omnipresent here in Ghana and such billboards help the cause.

    Samsung is omnipresent here in Ghana and such billboards help the cause.

    You can buy virtually anything on the road.

    You can buy virtually anything on the road.
    The specialty here seem to be snack foods.

    Delta flies from New York's Kennedy. They cancelled the Atlanta-Accra flight years ago.

    Delta flies from New York’s Kennedy. They cancelled the Atlanta-Accra flight years ago.

    Captivating!

    Captivating! Gets my attention… 🙂

    Founding Fathers

    Founding Fathers

    Daily chores

    Shell oil card

    Coca Cola

    Chinese companies have heavily vested here.

    Chinese companies have heavily vested here.

    Kofi Annan Center for Peacekeeping

    Kofi Annan Center for Peacekeeping

    Flags of the world

    While I didn't always agree with his Excellency's decisions as Secretary General, his center is an interesting model for Africa. That is only if it is not dominated by external powers.

    While I didn’t always agree with his Excellency’s decisions as Secretary General, his center is an interesting model for Africa. That is only if it is not dominated by external powers.

    Kofi Annan Center for Peacekeeping

    School kids… ever jubilant.

    Frndz

    Boys marveling with cell phone, a market that has exploded in Africa. Africans are much more fanatical about cell phones than any people I've seen. Perhaps this is due to having skipped so many stages of communication. This is the first platform in which they have been able to catch up.

    Boys marveling with cell phone, a market that has exploded in Africa. Africans are much more fanatical about cell phones than any people I’ve seen. Perhaps this is due to having skipped so many stages of communication. This is the first platform in which they have been able to catch up.

    These boys were singing and chanting.

    These boys were singing and chanting.

    Power to You

    loans

    Street vending is widespread in Africa and it is actually a very good method of distribution. You can buy virtually anything on the street. The drawback is the risk involved. However, it is very convenient.

    Street vending is widespread in Africa and it is actually a very good method of distribution. You can buy virtually anything on the street. The drawback is the risk involved. However, it is very convenient.

  7. Photos from Ghana (June 28, 2013)

    A special day.

    A special day.

    HUGE termite mounds

    HUGE termite mounds

    African women have mastered the concept of good posture and dignified walk.

    African women have mastered the concept of good posture and dignified walk.

    Ahomka by Halls.

    Ahomka… made by an American company.

    Orange juice is very good for you!

    Orange juice is very good for you! 🙂

    Residential compound for the President and his cabinet.

    Residential compound for the President and his cabinet.

    President John Dramani Mahama

    President John Dramani Mahama

    At the Nkrumah center, we saw a beautiful couple who were just married.

    At the Nkrumah center, we saw a beautiful couple who were just married.

    Dr. Kwame Nkrumah pointing to the Ministry of Justice building where he signed the proclamation for independence.

    Beautiful couple who were just married.

    Resplendent!

    This is an extension of the Soul Vegetarian franchise in the U.S.

    This is an extension of the Soul Vegetarian franchise in the U.S.

    Daaim at Independence Square

    Independence Square

    Carnival! Now we know where the the Caribbean and Latin America received inspiration.

    Carnival! Now we know where the the Caribbean and Latin America received inspiration.

    Yep… fast food consumption is increasing…

    …including popular brands.

    I prefer these foods!

    W.E.B. DuBois Memorial Centre for Pan-African Culture. Dr. DuBois is known by some to by the “Father of Pan-Africanism” but there are many other who preceded him in the quest to unite Africans.

    🙂

    Polo in Ghana???

    Happiness at wedding reception.

    Ghanaian fashion

    Here is the bride!

    More Ghanaian fashion

    A bit of a refreshment and then…



    …time to party!!

    Congratulations and best wishes!

    Nice jazz bar… +233.

    Good times!

  8. Photos from Ghana (June 30, 2013)

    We will look at some natural beauty today. This is the beauty of cleaning up a mess after a wedding. What the cleaners didn't get...

    We will look at some natural beauty today. This is the beauty of cleaning up a mess after a wedding. What the cleaners didn’t get…

    ...the scavengers got. These boxes were soon cleared away, but the birds remained trying to get morsels of food left in the soil.

    …the scavengers got. These boxes were soon cleared away, but the birds remained trying to get morsels of food left in the soil.

    ...the scavengers got. These boxes were soon cleared away, but the birds remained trying to get morsels of food left in the soil.

    A fallen tree. A closer look shows…

    ...the scavengers got. These boxes were soon cleared away, but the birds remained trying to get morsels of food left in the soil.

    …it was completely ravaged by termites.

    Could there be a Michael Jordan on the premises? Probably how Hakeem Olajuwon started in Nigeria.

    Could there be a Michael Jordan on the premises? Probably how Hakeem Olajuwon started in Nigeria.

    Prickly Pear cacti

    These are prickly pear cacti.

    Pretty birds eating flowers.

    Birds eating flowers.

    Pretty birds eating flowers.

    Pretty birds eat flowers while ugly birds eat food scraps after weddings!

    We have some of the same tree and plants in Florida, but not this one. Smells like jasmine.

    We have some of the same tree and plants in Florida, but not this one. Smells like jasmine.

    Interesting tree with a twisted bark.

    Interesting tree with a twisted bark.

    Nice ad for Milo!

    Nice ad for Milo!

    University of Ghana Basic School

    University of Ghana Basic School

    More enrichment

    More enrichment

    Gooooaaaallll!

    Gooooaaaallll!

    Not sure, but looks like a millipede. Bigger than any I've seen.

    Not sure, but looks like a millipede. Bigger than any I’ve seen.

    Bought some fruit and made a drink with my NUTRiBULLET.

    Bought some fruit and made a drink with my NUTRiBULLET.

    More African beauty…

    This is the back... stunning! Hard to believe this insects start out as ugly larvae.

    This is the back… stunning! Hard to believe this insects start out as ugly larvae.

    One of my favorites thus far on this trip.

    One of my favorites thus far on this trip.

    Married Muslim woman

    Married Muslim woman

    Taken at night while...

    Taken at night while…

    ...getting some coconut water.

    …getting some coconut water… delish!

  9. Photos from Ghana (July 1, 2013)

    Mango lady

    Ghanaian grace!

    The graceful walk of a Ghanaian woman!

    Muslim women

    Mothers will understand this photo.

    Mothers will understand this photo.

    Sewage

    This is raw sewage flowing in the gutter. Sanitation is one of Africa’s biggest obstacles to development in health and prosperity.

    Heading to the market.

    The marketplace… very vibrant!

    I was actually walking forward with the camera at my waist and snapping pictures. I hate to make people uncomfortable by pointing the camera. This is a zoomed shot. I was a bit farther away and this woman has a somewhat intriguing look at me. 🙂 I never noticed her in reality.

    My friend Yussif buying mangoes. They were huge!

    Good?

    One of the many traditions of the African Diaspora worldwide… hairbraiding.

    One of the more surprising trends in Africa…
    the popularity of wigs and long weaves.

  10. University of Ghana-Legon’s School of Business

    Library… beautiful building!

    Ghana Air Force Training Centre

    Me at University of Ghana-Legon’s School of Business

  11. Photos from Ghana (July 3, 2013)

    STORIES

    It is interesting how our lives are separate but at some point in time they cross. Oftentimes we do not recognize each other, yet we are all trying to grow and flourish at the same time. Look at the following five photos:

    Couple

    baby peeking

    waiting

    peek

    peek

    Seemingly all separate occurrences but…

    stories crossing paths

    … our stories often cross paths!

    Sometimes our creativity in expression gets the best of us! See it? 😯

    A place where I would eat Ghanaian porridge.

    This was porridge made with corn, millet, sugar and ginger. Very tasty!!

    Beautiful!

    Another butterfly

    These billboards are enough to put you in a good mood.

  12. Chess in Ghana (July 6, 2013)

    This is the Dutch pub where Ghanaian players play.

    Edward Lamptey Thompson and Kojo Hasford play a friendly as Sekou Nkrumah looks on.

    In case you are wondering, Sekou Nkrumah is the son of the late Dr. Kwame Nkrumah, visionary and first President of Ghana. He was named after Sekou Toure’, Guinea’s first President and the man who made Dr. Nkrumah co-President after he was deposed.

    Players wait for the start of the round. Edward Sosu visits.

    Finale’… Kwadwo vs. Kojo, 1/2-1/2.

    Me with George Arko-Dadzie, President of Chess Association.

    Winners… Kwadwo Bonsu and Kojo Hasford. Incidentally, both names are pronounced the same. Also pictured is Carlton Hushie, the young upstart.

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