As Ghana commemorates the 400th anniversary of the first enslaved Africans being brought to Jamestown, Virginia from the shores of West Africa, the call for the African Diaspora to return to the Motherland has been amplified.

None so more than in Ghana, where, since the beginning of 2019, the country has embarked on an ambitious campaign to get the African Diaspora to travel to the motherland. Several have heeded the call; among them celebrities such as Samuel L. Jackson, Deborah Cox, Steve Harvey and Colin Kaepernick making the journey home.

Celebrate Christmas and the New Year

It is expected to culminate in December, when Accra will become the epicentre of the ‘Black’ world, with several celebrities and a plethora of travellers expected to descend upon the city to celebrate Christmas and the New Year.

And of course, anywhere there’s a party and festivities,

expect Jamaicans to be involved.

On December 24, the only Jamaican party approved by the Ghanaian government as part of the Year of Return – PinexGinja (Pine and Ginja) is set to make an encore in Accra. Last year, the party was held in Accra and was one of the top events of the period, with Okay Africa listing it as a go-to party for December 2018.

Year of Return

This year, the organisers aim to capture the essence of

the Year of Return and connections facilitated by technology and social media

in their event.

Founder Mark Beckford, a Jamaican, who is now based in

Washington D.C., says bringing the different cultures, Jamaican and Ghanaian,

together is important to the mission of the party.

[naviga:ul]

[naviga:li]

BUZZ Travel: Things to do in Ghana[/naviga:li][/naviga:ul]

“Anyone who has been to Ghana and Jamaica knows that

there is a genetic connection between the two countries. Of course, there is

the trade, but there is also the strong cultural bonds that tie us in music, in

language, in food and in art. At PinexGinja, we’re bringing all of that

together and to further deepen the connection between the cultures,” he said.

Cultural ties

Making and deepening connections perfectly explains how

the party was brought together.

Beckford and co-founders Lakeshia Ford and Femi Kayode,

all from different walks of life, in their own way, learned about the direct

cultural ties between Jamaica and Ghana and saw the necessity for one

experience that could pull together both cultures.

Proper ‘bashment’ party

After continuous discussions, PineXGinja was born last

year. PineXGinja II will be a proper ‘bashment’ party in Accra, Ghana, on

December 24.

“We want this event to be a connection for people to

understand that while the roots started in Ghana, it went to Jamaica, blossomed

and bloomed and now you can take part of the fruit of that tree directly in

Ghana,” Mark said.

There will also be interactive art installations that

interpret and reflect Jamaican and Ghanaian culture.

 “I have been

coming to Ghana since 2008 and living here for four years, and I can tell you

that this is something Ghana will love. I think the different backgrounds of

the people on our team ensures that we are bringing a fresh but relatable

experience to Ghana. I want people to dream. When people step in the doors at

PineXGinja, they will be taken into another world,” Ford said, adding that she

sees the event as a movement that encourages people to travel to Africa.