Coming Home Ghana Special - Mother Fletcher and Uncle Redd

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The Phoenix Newspaper - September 2021 - Page 21

THE HOMECOMING OF MOTHER FLETCHER & UNCLE REDD

WELCOME HOME THE ARRIVAL

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iola Fletcher, aged 107 and her brother Hughes Van Ellis, aged 100, are two of the survivors of the 1921 Tulsa Race Massacre, and despite of everything they have been through over the last century, they hadn’t managed to return home.

The siblings are from Greenwood in Tulsa, Oklahoma, which was devastated by a mob of armed white people in 1921. In the area otherwise known as “Black Wall Street” at least 300 African Americans were killed in the attack, with some 10,000 left homeless when the district was set ablaze, leaving a vibrant economy in ruins.

When they first expressed the want to return to the motherland, Mother

Fletcher and Uncle Redd wanted to see the Pyramids and Animals, but through The Return to Ghana, spiritually Ghana was decided as the best place for them to return to.

“Now, after all these years, I’m so happy to be fulfilling a lifelong dream of going to Africa,” beamed Viola, “and I’m so blessed that it is to Ghana.”

The trip, co-sponsored by Virginiabased social media platform Our Black Truth and the Diaspora Africa Forum, based in Ghana, took place between the 14th and 21st of August, and saw the siblings hosted by Kings and even the President of Ghana among a number of other engagements.

As Dr Toni Luck mentioned in interview, “They could either see dead pharaohs or animals, or come here and meet live kings! Those 2 live kings then conferred names to them, and the

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President gave them citizenship.”

The siblings landed in Ghana’s capital of Accra as they were greeted by onlookers who cheered with shouts of “welcome home.”

After being greeted with flowers and sashes, Fletcher’s grandson, Ike Howard, said: “My grandparents are extremely excited to be home for the first time on the motherland.

“If you haven’t visited Africa, this is the time to come. We are in the middle of a pandemic but tomorrow is never promised to anyone.”

Travelling despite severe health issues causing hospitalisation before their trip, Ambassador Bennett said “They both said the only way they would not come to Ghana is if they were in a coffin. And you see them here, so let’s give them a big standing ovation.”

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Page 22 - The Phoenix Newspaper - September 2021

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THE HOMECOMING OF MOTHER FLETCHER & UNCLE REDD

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other Fletcher and Uncle Redd attended Action Chapel International church, where they were celebrated and received gifts welcoming then to Ghana, and marking a connection with their motherland in Accra.

The group then visited

HONOURING MOTHER FLE The Diaspora Africa Forum headquarters, where the DAF added the names of the siblings to the iconic names on its Sankofa wall in Accra, Ghana.

During the ceremony, Hugh Van Ellis raised his finger to indicate the oneness of all people of African descent and said “we are one”.

At the unveiling, Mother Fletcher

asked for prayers after her grandson Ike Howard read out the names of their ancestors already mounted on the wall. There was also a brief tour of the tomb of W E B Dubois at the centre bearing his name, before visiting Osu Castle Dungeon, where the enslaved were kept before being shipped overseas.

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The Phoenix Newspaper - September 2021 - Page 23

THE HOMECOMING OF MOTHER FLETCHER & UNCLE REDD

ETCHER AND UNCLE REDD A

t the Ambassadorial Afternoon Tea, Mother Fletcher and Uncle Redd met with a number of international Ambassadors.

They included US Ambassador - H.E. Stephanie S. Sullivan, Mali Ambassador - H.E. Abdoul Kader Toure, Kenya High Commissioner - E.M Barine, Nigerian Minister - Mrs. Esther Adebola Arewa, and the Namibia High Commissioner - Selma Ashipala-Musavyi.

Also in attendance were South African High Commissioner - Grace Jeanet Mason, Ivory Coast Ambassador - H.E Bernard Ehui-Koutoua, and the Togo Ambassador- H.E. Awoki Panassa.

All of the Ambassadors presented gifts from their countries as tokens of love and return for the special guests.

At the house of Judge Julia, the group was welcomed

by Gã Mantse, King Tackie Teiko Tsuru II the traditional king of the Gã State in southern Ghana.

During the evening, they were adorned with hyssop wreaths, and Nai Wulomo conferred upon them Gã names, Naa Yaoteley on Mother Fletcher, and Nii Tete on Hughes Van Ellis, which will allow them to trace their history back to a specific house in the Gã region.

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Page 24 - The Phoenix Newspaper - September 2021

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THE HOMECOMING OF MOTHER FLETCHER & UNCLE REDD

DURBAR & NAM T here was an Official Naming Ceremony that took place after The Ministry of Tourism, Arts and Culture, Ghana Tourism Authority Beyond the Return, Diaspora Affairs, Office of the President and the Diaspora Africa Forum came together.

Dressed entirely in white, signifying the new beginning, the siblings were in attendance with some of their family members.

Attended by members of the diaspora and local community, the ceremony took place outside the Accra Tourist Information Centre in the presence of The Deputy

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Minister of Tourism Arts and Culture, Mark Okraku-Mantey, Deputy Director of Diaspora Affairs Office of the President, Nadia Adongo Musah, Chairperson of PANAFEST Foundation, Professor Esi Sutherland-Addy, Ambassador Nancy Sam, representatives of Ghana Tourism Authority and

s part of their “Taste of Ghana” reception, the Igbo community in Ghana, and the Ghanian government in conjunction with the Nigeria High Commission organised a grand cultural reception for Mother Fletcher and Uncle Redd.

Eze Ndigbo Ghana and the Assistant Publicity Secretary, Association Ndieze of Ndieze Ndigbo in the Diaspora, HRM Chukwudi Ihenetu with support of palace Chiefs, Charge D’Affairs Nigeria High Commission, Mrs Esther Arewa, Ambassador Bennett,

Director Of Diaspora Africa Forum (DAF) and other prominent Africans organised the cultural fiesta featuring rich Igbo culture.

Through traditional dance, storytelling, food, drink and the giving of gifts to the centenarians, who thoroughly enjoyed the spectacle.

Eze Ihenetu then conferred the chieftaincy title of Ebube Ndi Igbo on Viola Ford Fletcher (The Glory of the Igbo) and Ike Oha Ndi Igbo (Strength of the Igbo) on Chief. Hughes Van Ellis with both titles being recognised by the American government.

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The Phoenix Newspaper - September 2021 - Page 25

THE HOMECOMING OF MOTHER FLETCHER & UNCLE REDD

MING CEREMONY members of the African American Association of Ghana.

Mother Fletcher and Uncle Redd approached the podium for the naming ceremony, officiated by Osu Alata Mantse, Nii Kwabena Bonnie V. They received their names, Naa Lamle for Mother Fletcher, and Nii Lante for Uncle Redd, before being

given certificates, and libations were poured and prayers said. The rest of the delegation were also given their names and certificates.

“The naming ceremony we are having for our brothers and sisters is to reconnect with them and welcome them back home and also to review their identities as Africans and

Ghanaians to be precise,” said Mr. Mark Okraku Mantey, Deputy Minister of Tourism Arts and Culture.

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Page 26 - The Phoenix Newspaper - September 2021

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THE HOMECOMING OF MOTHER FLETCHER & UNCLE REDD

IT TOOK A MERE 100 YEARS TO MAKE A MIRACLE

By Dr Toni Luck

O

PRESIDENTIAL VISIT

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uring their visit to Ghana, the party visited the President of Ghana, Nana Addo Dankwa AkufoAddo, who has been president since 2017, swearing into his second term on January 7th this year.

President Akufo-Addo launched the Year of Return initiative in 2019, symbolic due to it’s commemoration of 400 years since the first enslaved Africans touched down in Jamestown in America, and subsequently the Beyond the Return initiative in 2020, to encourage African diasporans to return to Africa (specifically Ghana), and to settle and invest in the continent.

During the meeting, Mother Fletcher and Uncle Redd were offered Ghanaian Citizenship

by President Akufo-Addo, and both graciously accepted the offer.

In their response and appreciation to the government and people of Ghana, Viola and Hughes said “We accept the Ghana citizenship with great joy and we thank the president Nana Akufo-Addo for this great honour.”

l The party meets with President of Ghana, Nana Addo Dankwa Akufo-Addo

nce in a lifetime, if one is lucky, one can be presented with an opportunity to do something that is life enhancing, not just for themselves but for others.

On June 4th, when a call came to Mr. Michael Thomas, Founder and Chairman of Our Black Truth, the new social media platform made for African and African descendant people, I knew I had a door open to such a blessing – the opportunity to make a dream come true for a 107-year-old woman who had gone through hell at the age of 7 – her dream to come to the Motherland.

After witnessing her testimony of 19 May before the US Congress there was no doubt that I had to do all I could to make Viola Ford Fletcher’s dream come true.

So, I made three phone calls – two to Ghana and one to the UK to three phenomenal women – H.E. Ambassador Erieka Bennett, Head of Mission of the Diaspora African Forum, Lady Rosa Whitaker Duncan Williams, First Lady of Action Chapel and to the publisher of THE PHOENIX, Dr Marcia McLaughlin F.Birm.Soc. They all said yes, yes, yes – lets do it so without any doubt in my mind – Ghana was the only place for such a Once in a Lifetime visit.

With the approval of the Board of Our Black Truth, the supporting sponsor, we went to work with the Diaspora African Forum who became our cosponsor in Ghana.

With all the wonders and magic at her disposal, Ambassador Bennett galvanized every key stakeholder in the wondrous government of H.E. Nana Akufo-Addo, President of Ghana and his amazing Presidential office of Diaspora Affairs under the leadership

of two incredible Ghanaians – Director Mr. Akwasi Awuah Abablo and Deputy Director Dr. Nadia Adongo Musah, along with the Ministry of Tourism, The Ghana Tourism Authority, Beyond the Return, The Ghana Investment Promotion Center, and with the Private Sector including Mr. Alex Dadey Chairman of GBL Foundation and Ambassador Nanci Q Sam, President of Women in Tourism.

With everything done in less than 7 weeks, Mother Fletcher, her baby brother Uncle Redd, her Grandson Ike Howard who was so instrumental all the way, Uncle Redd’s two daughters Malee and Muriel and family flew to Ghana on Delta Airways on the 13 of August for 8 days of Magic as these amazing photos show.

In the end, it was Uncle Redd who had the last word – WE ARE ONE – now and forevermore Africa is reconnected to her Children in the Diaspora and it took a mere 100 years and one phone call to do it thanks to Mother Fletcher and Uncle Redd.

THANK YOU

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e would also like to thank our Phoenix team on the ground in Ghana, Bernard Kwakye, International Affairs Executive, Rhoda Adjowa Ampeaw, Photography/ Videographer & Michael Edem Attivor, Photography/ Videographer.

The ongoing coverage of this trip couldn't have happened without your support and hard work over the 8 days.

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