Dreams come true for Manitoba's Ghanaian community as country makes solo Folklorama debut

It was a night years in the making for Manitoba's Ghanaian community Sunday as the doors opened forthe debutof the country's first-ever solo Folklorama Pavilion in Winnipeg.

Folklorama which calls itself the longest-running multicultural festival in the world kicked off Sunday with pavilions across the city eagerly waiting to showcase the best their country has to offer. This year's edition of the festival runs until Aug. 17.

The festival also features 38 pavilions, with Ghana being one of the new entries this year.

"It means a lot," said Maggie Yeboah, who chaired the implementation committee to help bring the Ghana pavilion to life. "This is something that we've been dreaming of for the longest time."

Yeboah said Ghana was previously part of the Africapavilion, but now gets the chance to fly solo after years of planning and hard work from community members.

The pavilion runs from Aug. 4 to Aug. 10 and features a wide array of food and drinks, vendors and cultural performances.

Yeboah, who has been living in Canada for 43 years, said Sunday's event wasextra special because she was also celebrating her birthday a day that has now become "like the birthday of the Ghana pavilion."

People were linedup outside the Centre Culturel Franco-Manitobain on Provencher Boulevard well before doors opened on Sunday, which was an exciting sight and a bit of relief for Akosua Bonsu, one of the pavilion's co-ordinators.

She said being able to have a Ghana pavilion is a testament to how big the Ghanaian community has gotten.

"Ghanaians in Manitoba formed a union in the 1980s and the population here has only grown," said Bonsu. "For us to be able to come together and create something as special as a Folklorama pavilion is truly wonderful."

Bonsu said besides enjoying the food and entertainment, attendees will also learn lots about the African country.

"It's a good feeling that people want to learn more about us and our culture," she said.

Longtime Africa pavilion visitorKewsi Bruce said he was excited for Ghana to have its own stage to showcase its culture.

"Start with the food, listen to the drums and every song," he said. "See the smiles and the outfits that we put on and just really take it slow....We have a lot to offer."

Yeboahechoed Bruce's message.

"You don't know what you're going to miss if you don't visit the Ghana pavilion this year," said Yeboah. "We have it all. As they say back home, 'We have the good stuff,' so people should come and see who we are."