"ASHANTIMAN" AKWASIDAE FESTIVAL IN NEW ORLEANS LA, USA

9301 Lake Forest Blvd,New Orleans LA 70128

19 February, 2022

Description

Join us for Culture dancing, Culture entertainment and food in New Orleans as our Africa roots birthed the city and Carnival of New Orleans Dear African American Diasporas, Emigrants and other Diasporas, Allow me to introduce myself. I'm Queen Mother Alaina Paul-Mensah.  A Queen Mother is a title given in Ghana, Nigeria and some other Africa and foreign countries. Queen Mothers are serving as the voice for women, children and vulnerable groups in policy decisions. We deliver on our vision by building strategic alliances with all relevant development actors, raising awareness, gathering community centered data collection, and research. I'm native born New Orleans, my second home Sacramento CA., and third home Ghana. My mom's Dad Landry Grandison Sr. lineage is traced back to Ghana. If you are born in New Orleans and Louisiana your ancestors are from Ghana, Nigeria, Senegal, Congo, Bein, Haiti or Brazil. There are many in Ghana that look like our relatives. There names such as Shirley, Ernestine, Agnes, Claire, Patricia, Sandra, Sonya, Ernest, Kelvin, Earl, Kobby, Watson, just to name some names we grew up with in New Orleans and down South. Just like in America, Music to our Ears While riding in the car, Taxi or Uber, Africans play all day long on their radio ole skool music such as Temptations, Earth Wind and Fire, Stevie Wonder, Prince, all rappers, it's like you are in America. You will wobble your head, snap your finger and sing along to familiar songs. The Brass Bands we  enjoy in New Orleans, are played exactly the same way in Ghana and Nigeria. My Education I attended (Historic) Holy Redeemer Elementary located at 1941 Dauphine street, Xavier Preparatory High School now Katherine Drexel and Dillard University.  My current Accomplishments I'm currently in Kasoa right outside of Greater Accra. I'm  a International influencer, International Event Coordinator, International Narrator connecting diasporas mainly from the USA to Ghana, Nigeria, Africa, a Personal Chef and have a food delivery service, and catering business with dine in by reservation in Ghana named Queen Mama Alaina's Kitchen and Beignets Gourmet Food in the USA. In Ghana I recently presented the first Annual Sweet Potatoes and Yams Festival in Accra at the Arts Center June 12 and 13 2021, connecting diasporas with the locals and serving up sweet potato pie. Sweet Potatoes is a crop food our ancestors ate while they travelled the Atlantic Ocean and during Slavery and of course we enjoy this delicious crop year round. The second Annual will be held by God's grace on Saturday June 11 and Sunday 12, 2022, location TBA and you are invited.  Giving Back My organization in America is Queens of Africa United International Foundation USA, is non-profit 501c3. My humanitarian services through my organization in Ghana Malachi's International Ministries compliments my humanitarian efforts with compassion to assist in helping as God allows me with the orphans, street kids, elderly, widows, some hospital needs and some in distress situations.  Honoring our Madame  In addition, in honor of Madame Marie C. Couvent I would like to build a state of the art school for the poor kids from the villages in Ghana that don't have the opportunity to attend school. When you visit any foreign countries these are the little kids that roam the streets selling during school hours because their parents can't afford to send them to school. As stated in my introduction I attended Historic Holy Redeemer Elementary along with my parents and several relatives and went to the very first elementary Catholic school in New Orleans. Holy Redeemer is located at 1941 Dauphine Street that was founded by Marie C. Bernard Couvent and currently under the care of the Catholic Archdioceses. Many blacks were Catholics because if you were a slave and a Catholic they did not separate the families. Being a Catholic they kept the black families together. Bio on our Madame  Marie Bernard Couvent (c. 1757 – June 28, 1837),[1] also known as Justin Fervin, Maria Gabriel Bernard Couvent,[1] and Marie Justine Cirnaire,[2] was an African-American philanthropist in New Orleans.[3] She is best known for dedicating the property that would be used to construct the Institute Catholique meaning a member of the Catholic Church.  She was born in Guinea West Africa which is on the gulf coast. it was said her captivity at the tender age of 7 years old with no parents landed her in the hands of the French colony of Saint-Domingue and onto the shores of cape coast Ghana where she was taken as a little girl by way of the Atlantic Slave trade to Haiti and apparently escaped the revolution war in Haiti to New Orleans Louisiana USA in which that city New Orleans along with other states and cities were created by our ancestors from Africa. She married a wealthy businessman Bernard Couvent said to be an Architect in New Orleans that was much older than her, he preceded her in death and Madame Marie in her mid 30's inherited his estate. She didn't know how to read or write, therefore she went to the Archdiocese Priest that assisted her in opening the first catholic schools for Black kids in New Orleans as well as the first schools for Blacks in America. Madame Marie Bernard Couvent and her husband Bernard did not have any kids. Therefore there was no existing family or children to carry on her legacy; accept God has called me to help narrate her vision. I'm sure others have carried her baton in hopes of keeping her legacy alive and now I'm carrying it a little further and would greatly appreciate your support in celebrating her legacy. We can safely and proudly say Madame Marie Bernard Couvent "her given name," legacy deserves honor, recognition and celebration. She pioneered and planted the seed in opening the first black schools in New Orleans and America and in which many other Catholic schools in New Orleans and possible other battlefield cities and states were beneficiaries in opening schools from her inheritance by way of the Archdiocese.  I will confidently say some Public schools were opened with her inheritance because the Archdiocese has been known for generously helping the community and non Catholics before being hit with lawsuits.  Her vision, her inheritance from her husband and her generous donation to the Archdioceses created Fat Domino, Master P. Louis Armstrong, Mahalia Jackson, Lil Wayne, Dance groups, Treme Side Steppers, Corporations, CEO's, Mayor's, Doctor's, Attorney's, Musician's, Caterers, Engineer's, Athletes, the list goes on in the city of New Orleans and Worldwide and black schools in other states.  I learned to play the Clarinet at Holy Redeemer, and many others played instruments because of her schools donated through the Archdioceses that resulted in the rich heritage of Mardi Gras that so many enjoy.. Civil Rights started 1954 to 1968, therefore she helped house the education for our past, present and future to come. It was Ghanaians that created and built the Treme Center which derived the Treme Sidestepper dancers and many of the other culture dance groups in New Orleans. The Eyo Festival in Nigeria illustrates more of the dance groups and marching bands. Many have benefited and enjoyed a homage they have no clue about because I didn't learn of Madame Marie Bernard Couvent in elementary school or any History Book in High School or College. Therefore it's imperative we acknowledge, honor, celebrate, keep our youth and others educated about our incredible African ancestors that created and built the city of New Orleans from Ghana, Nigeria to New Orleans, Louisiana. This is happening February 19, - March 1, 2022 in NEW ORLEANS Mardi Gras is March 1, 2022, you will enjoy the festivities during this time frame Why should you attend? Since Mardi Gras takes place in February or March we are incorporating the different African cultural events together such the Ghanaian Homowo Festival, Ashantiman Akwasida Festival, Ewe Festival. Nigerian Eyo Festival are some to help educate and showcase the beautiful creativity of what our ancestors created from Ghana, Nigeria, Brazil to New Orleans. Again, we are celebrating the heritage and legacy of our ancestors and descendants that created and built the pioneering city New Orleans. The Foundation Ghana, Nigeria, Africa, Brazil, Senegal and Caribbean's ancestors are the core foundation of New Orleans and current entertainment. Therefore, since many from Africa don't know about the history of what their ancestors built in New Orleans, Louisiana and America, we are presenting the opportunity for our descendants from Ghana, Nigeria, Africa etc. to join us in New Orleans during this time to see the legacy created by our ancestors. This is a multicultural event where all nationalities are invited to learn, enjoy and network. Head Wraps If you are from Africa or the USA please wear your African Attire or your country's attire if you're from another country to represent where you are coming from. Ladies please wear your biggest and highest Tignon or Tiynon head wraps....."Nigerians" We will tell the EXPENSIVE story behind the beautiful and creative head wraps. There is so much great information to share. Please share with your network and we encourage those to purchase tickets early to help make the event an Annual successful. Different culture links for the same event to target different Tribes/Klan's. Please note: no one else is authorized to sell tickets except our organization.  How to buy your Ticket on Eventbrite or WWW.QUEENSOFAFRICAUSA.ORG  If you can't come please consider monetary donationhttps://www.paypal.com/donate/?hosted_button_id=SDGVTQRAMJXK Location The Gala location is: Le'Neauxla Event Hall9301 Lake Forest Blvd. Ste 116 Saturday February 19, 2022 Doors open at 7:00 pm to 1:00 pm Welcome, History and Narration 7:05 pm   You can be a guest speaker: 8:00 pm Live Entertainment 9:00 pm  Sunday February 20, 2022 Second half of History and Narration 11:00 pm 10:00 am to 2:00 pm Prayer Breakfast and Brunch Subject to change and based on the world pandemic. As we approach the event email updates will be sent. Please wear your custom creative mask and show a negative covid test. Enter our "Most Creative Mask Contest" We are seeking to collaborate with some culture dance teams to perform, a couple of caterers that can cook both local, Ghanaian and Nigerian foods; preferably a food truck caterer because the facility does not have a kitchen. Anyone interested in sharing our history,  performing, tour foreigners around New Orleans, and a decorator that can bring forth our vision. Please and reply in a separate email to [email protected] How did we get your email? Social Media or referral Advertisement Connecting Tourism from USA to Ghana/Africa It's Time to Visit Ghana Ghana is pioneering the continent of Africa for Tourism and new development. There are opportunities to start or expand your dream business and it's affordable. There are many Black Americans in Ghana; many from New Orleans (both blacks and whites) have visited and are currently living in Ghana. Before you pack and move please visit. If you just decide to move, be prepared to pay 1-2 years in advance rent; contact Redeemer at LaCress Realtor. Please watch the video on the new Wakanda City being built in Cape Coast. If you are interested in visiting Ghana please contact me. Queens of Africa USA Tours. Queen Mama Alaina's Kitchen in Kasoa Ghana right outside greater Accra Serving Ghana, Nigeria and New Orleans Infusion Foods; with Vegan Soul Food and Desserts, (Beignets Gourmet Food) dine in by reservation only1916-477-4171Without a layover the quickest flight time from New Orleans, Louisiana to Accra, Ghana is:12 hours, 33 minutes. Keep in mind you can travel 12 plus hours in America driving from the East Coast to the West Coast Register your business in Ghana https://rgd.gov.gh/ Please watch the video on the new Wakanda City being built in Cape Coast. If you are interested in visiting Ghana please contact me. Queens of Africa USA Tours. Queen Mama Alaina's Kitchen in Kasoa Ghana right outside greater Accra Serving Ghana, Nigeria and New Orleans Infusion Foods; with Vegan Soul Food and Desserts, (Beignets Gourmet Food) dine in by reservation only 1916-477-4171 Without a layover the quickest flight time from New Orleans, Louisiana to Accra, Ghana is:12 hours, 33 minutes. Keep in mind you can travel 12 plus hours in America driving from the East Coast to the West Coast Register your business in Ghana https://rgd.gov.gh/ Take a look at Ghana http://motac.gov.gh/ COPY AND PASTE THE LINKS INTO YOUR BROWSER CREDITS to my JoAnn Paul Njoku for telling me some of or History