Daniel Kojo Delong, a Ghanaian actor known as “The Actor’s Preacher,” was part of a group of over 70 Ghanaian artists who made history at Carifesta XV in Barbados with the well-known play Mansa Musa and the Trail of Lost Gold.
Chief Moomen, a Ghanaian poet, writer, and creative entrepreneur who made The Mansa World, was in charge of the crew.
Bambu Heritage Productions, with the help of Masala Corp and Oakwood Green Africa, put on the show at the request of Barbados Prime Minister Mia Amor Mottley at the new National Performing Arts Centre.
A statement sent to the Ghana News Agency in Accra on Tuesday claimed that it was the first production to be held at the venue, establishing a strong example.
“This historic concert is one of the most daring Afro-Caribbean collaborations in recent years, bringing together Ghanaian and Bajan talent in a stunning celebration of their shared history.
The concert was a stunning mix of African and Caribbean vocals. Earlier this week, the Mansa Orchestra gave a touching first performance that included tributes including a powerful version of Bajan Soca Queen Alison Hinds’ song “Togetherness.”
The concert showed how the African diaspora shares both challenges and celebrations, showing how music and culture can bring people together.
The people in charge of the event said it was more than just fun; they called it a symbolic bridge across the Atlantic that brought Africa and its descendants in the Caribbean closer together.
Daniel Kojo Delong, a well-known Ghanaian actor, was one of the best performers of the night in the main show. He wowed fans as Sumanguru.
Delong was born in 1983 and has been acting on stage and cinema for almost twenty years.
His body of work includes well-known plays like Inside Out and Dede (Akwaaba Magic/Multichoice) and movies like Aloe Vera, Sidechick Gang, and The Devil’s Work.
Delong’s artistic path began in the National Theatre of Ghana, where he played the well-known folk character Kweku Ananse.
He further improved his skills by studying Theatre Arts at the School of Performing Arts at the University of Ghana, Legon. After that, he went on to get international training at the Stagecraft Institute of Las Vegas, which was funded by the John F. Kennedy Center for the Performing Arts.
Delong is the perfect example of cultural interchange on this historic stage. His career is based on Ghanaian traditions and has been enriched by experiences around the world.
Delong has done well in events management, working with businesses, and leading a church in addition to acting.
He is the Lead Pastor of Zoe Chapel International and a teacher at GH Media School. He is able to combine his artistic, academic, and spiritual callings while still shining on stages around the world.
After the show, Delong thanked the organizers and the crowd from the bottom of his heart:
“I’m really proud to be a part of this historic show. Thank you to the people of Barbados and the folks who put this event together for being so welcoming. This is about using the skill God gave me to bring people together, encourage them, and remind us all that Africa and the diaspora are one soul.
For Chief Moomen and the Ghanaian delegation, the performance was the result of years of hard labor.
The production is one of the most ambitious cross-Atlantic cultural collaborations ever, with a 70-member Ghanaian crew and an 80-member Bajan team.
Organizers noted, “This was both a play and a strong statement about bringing Africa back together with its diaspora and honoring our shared histories.”
The event helped Ghana and the Caribbean talk to each other more about their cultures. It also showed how art can change the way people think about Africa’s history.
As Ghana tries to become a center for diaspora engagement with programs like The Year of Return, Beyond the Return, and the Re-Africanization of the Diaspora, Mansa Musa and the Trail of Lost Gold adds a new chapter to the fight against cultural erasure by bringing together theater, history, and identity.
About the Author
