The Du Boises were welcomed to Ghana in 1961 by Osagyefo Dr. Kwame Nkrumah, the country's first president. A dream he shared with Nkrumah, Dr. Du Bois concentrated on finishing the Encyclopedia Africana at the age of 93 in order to present African history from an African point of view. Shirley became involved in Ghana's political and intellectual life and backed the idea.
Shirley remained in Ghana after her husband passed away in 1963, carrying on their Pan-African work and fostering closer ties between Ghana and the African American community. She was given the position of Director of Ghana National Television in 1964, where she influenced media programming to highlight African freedom and culture. She made room for Black voices in international discussions, emancipated women in journalism, and helped establish Ghana as a pioneer in Pan-African media.
Shirley thought that people of African heritage all over the world may find a cultural and spiritual home in Ghana. She inspired African Americans to view Ghana as a place of pride and belonging rather than just a travel destination through her work in the media and her relationships with the diaspora.
In order to advance policies that prioritized African identity and cultural strength, she collaborated with Ghanaian leaders and academics. She pushed for more women to hold prominent positions in politics and the media and challenged gender stereotypes with her fearless and inclusive leadership style. During a period when women's voices were frequently muffled, Shirley Graham Du Bois stood out.
Shirley thought that people of African heritage all over the world may find a cultural and spiritual home in Ghana. She inspired African Americans to view Ghana as a place of pride and belonging rather than just a travel destination through her work in the media and her relationships with the diaspora.
In order to advance policies that prioritized African identity and cultural strength, she collaborated with Ghanaian leaders and academics. She pushed for more women to hold prominent positions in politics and the media and challenged gender stereotypes with her fearless and inclusive leadership style. During a period when women's voices were frequently muffled, Shirley Graham Du Bois stood out.
Her work in print, television, and radio increased Ghana's visibility at a pivotal point in the worldwide Black liberation movement. She made sure that tales of African success, tenacity, and solidarity were not only saved but also audaciously disseminated over the globe.
However, many people, including Shirley, were compelled to leave Ghana in 1966 due to the political upheaval that followed Nkrumah's overthrow. She continued to write, give lectures, and appear on international stages while living in exile, all the while remaining a fervent supporter of African unity and cultural preservation.
Alongside individuals like W.E.B. Du Bois and George Padmore, Shirley's efforts are worthy of acknowledgment as Ghana develops into a hub for African American cultural tourism. She contributed to Ghana's reputation as a center of Pan-African philosophy and Black brilliance.
However, many people, including Shirley, were compelled to leave Ghana in 1966 due to the political upheaval that followed Nkrumah's overthrow. She continued to write, give lectures, and appear on international stages while living in exile, all the while remaining a fervent supporter of African unity and cultural preservation.
Alongside individuals like W.E.B. Du Bois and George Padmore, Shirley's efforts are worthy of acknowledgment as Ghana develops into a hub for African American cultural tourism. She contributed to Ghana's reputation as a center of Pan-African philosophy and Black brilliance.
As part of their mission to preserve and elevate Pan-African heritage, the W.E.B. Du Bois Museum Foundation is proud to lead this commemoration. They are working to transform the W.E.B. Du Bois Memorial Centre for Pan African Culture into a world-class museum complex—a vibrant hub for education, tourism, and cultural diplomacy that honors the legacy of both Dr. Du Bois and Shirley Graham Du Bois. Her books, including Tom-Tom, Dr. George Washington Carver, Scientist, Paul Robeson, Citizen of the World, and There Once Was a Slave, continue to inspire readers today. By the W.E.B. Du Bois Museum Foundation | March 27, 2025