cross-posted from: https://midwest.social/post/12305822
May 17 is Mr Stevie Wonder's birthday and to celebrate, with Mrs Tomeeka by his side, he became officially citizen of the Republic of Ghana, something the artist has spoke of doing since 1972!
The 25-time Grammy Award-winning artist was[…]conferred the certification of registration as a citizen of Ghana and a Ghanaian passport during a ceremony Monday at the Jubilee House, the presidential palace in the capital city, Accra.
"I, first of all, give all praise to God," Wonder said in footage posted online. "Since a little boy, I always believed in my heart that there was nothing impossible ... And for years, since about 1972, I've talked about coming to Ghana."
It was immediately unclear if Wonder would maintain dual-citizenship.
Ghana President Nana Akufo-Addo said the west African nation extends "our warmest embrace to a beloved son of Africa," adding that Wonder's citizenship reaffirmed "our belief in the enduring spirit of Pan-Africanism and the global African family, and the boundless potential of our continent and all its descendants," he said Tuesday on X, formerly Twitter.
Strangely enough, at the time of this writing, the Freep didn't cover the news regarding Wonder's birthday nor Ghanian citizenship. According to the Freep archives, Wonder's been talking about the move since at least their March 15, 1974 article…
From the Freep's article from February 2, 2022…
[…]the music great told [Oprah] Winfrey about his intention to move to Ghana. Asked why, he alluded to the state of race and politics in America: "I don't want to see my children's children's children have to say: 'Oh, please like me, please respect me, please know that I'm important, please value me.' What kind of s--- is that?"
He added to the Free Press that the Ghanaian president "has allowed me to have some land."
Allow us to wish Mr Wonder a most happy 74^th^ birthday in the official language of the Republic of Ghana…
Happy Birthday, Stevie!
(Ha! The official language is English!)
MUSIC! 🎉 🎺 🎉 🎺
- From My Cherie Amour - Yester-Me, Yester-You, Yesterday
- From Songs In The Key of Life - Sir Duke
- From Innervisions - Don't You Worry 'Bout A Thing
- From Talking Book - You Are The Sunshine Of My Life
Alt link sausage for your convenience via archive.is:
- The News: Stevie Wonder marks 74th birthday by becoming a Ghanaian citizen
- The Freep: Stevie Wonder moving to Ghana? Not so fast ...
Stay sick, scratch glass, turn blue, climb walls…but don't get caught!
!detroit@midwest.social ☆ !michigan@midwest.social ☆ !music@midwest.social
