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‘Seeing Mahama with the Rastas Made Me Proud’ – Ras Caleb on Jamaica Cultural Visit
President John Dramani Mahama’s Nyabinghi drumming in Jamaica has been praised by Ras Caleb, Chief Executive Officer and Founding President of PANAFRICA-GHANA, who described the moment as a strong symbol of Pan-African unity and the President’s commitment to the ideals of liberation, reparations and African identity.
Speaking in an interview with KPDOnline, Ras Caleb described the moment as a powerful expression of Pan-African solidarity, saying it reflected Mahama’s appreciation of the Rastafarian movement’s long-standing role in championing African liberation and unity.
“I’m not speaking as a Rastafarian but as an African,” he said. “I see Rastas spearheading important things, and I was so happy when I saw the videos of His Excellency John Dramani Mahama with the Rastas playing Nyabinghi music in Jamaica.”
According to him, the footage brought back memories of former President Jerry John Rawlings’ visit to Jamaica in 1997, which he believes helped inspire Ghana’s Emancipation Day celebrations that began the following year.
“My mind went straight to 1997 when the late President Rawlings, the late Professor Kofi Awoonor, the former Deputy Minister for Tourism, Amofa, and Dr Tornado visited Jamaica. That was how the Emancipation celebration started, and Ghana began celebrating it in 1998,” Ras Caleb recalled.
He said watching President Mahama join the drumming session resonated deeply with him because of the historical connection between the Rastafarian movement and Pan-African ideals.
“I was excited when I saw the videos on social media. We, the Rastas, have always been champions of Pan-Africanism. Seeing the President with the Rastafarians playing Nyabinghi music meant a lot to me.”
Ras Caleb noted that Mahama’s engagement with the Rastafarian community suggested an understanding of the movement’s mission and its contribution to the struggle for African liberation.
He also drew comparisons with Rawlings’ visit nearly three decades ago, recalling that the former Ghanaian leader shared a stage with a Jamaican Rastafarian band, then-Prime Minister P.J. Patterson and the late former First Lady Nana Konadu Agyeman-Rawlings.
“I still have photographs from that visit. Seeing President Mahama do something similar tells me he understands the mission of the Rastafarians.”
Ras Caleb said the Rastafarian movement continues to advocate for repatriation, reparations and the resettlement of people of African descent, adding that Mahama has consistently shown support for the reparations agenda.
“We are talking about repatriation, reparation and resettlement. President John Dramani Mahama has been a champion of reparations, so it was important for him to meet the Rastas, who have carried the message of liberation and emancipation for generations.”
President Mahama’s visit to Jamaica included bilateral engagements aimed at strengthening relations between Ghana and the Caribbean, while also participating in activities highlighting the shared history and cultural ties between Africa and the African diaspora.