Iconic and globally celebrated American singer-songwriter, musician, and record producer, Stevie Wonder (born Stevland Hardaway Morris) was again, at the center of international attention, as he received his certificate of citizenship of Ghana, a frontline country in West Africa.The ceremony coincided with the legend’s 74th birthday and had in attendance, President Nana Akufo-Addo of Ghana, top government functionaries and family members of Steve Wonder, a creative genius.
As he was being honored, however, not many may remember that Wonder has had a long and rich history of intimate relationship with Ghana and Africa as a whole, especially through his music and African art and culture generally.
For instance, Stevie Wonder was a part of the Pan African Historical Theatre Festival (PANAFEST) of the 1990s, a cultural festival dedicated to the promotion of the ideals of Pan Africanism and the development of the African continent which featured top artists from the African continent and the Diaspora.
He not only performed at the events but was at a point appointed Chairman of the International Advisory Board of PANAFEST, which was organized for Africans, people of African descent and other peoples committed to the well being of Africans on the mother Continent and those in the Diaspora.
His citizenship of Ghana is sure to attract to Ghana and Africa as a whole immense advantages, including opening the doors for similar stars of African descent to return to their roots.
