Ghana is a desired destination for many reasons, including the “Year of Return” and “Beyond the Return” initiatives, the birthplace of Pan-Africanism, the rise of Ghanaian sprinter Abdul Rasheed Samin, the launch of PANAFEST and Emancipation Day, and as the site of the 2025 International Black Theatre Summit.
Led by theatre activist and visionary Monica White Ndounou, Ph.D., founder and CEO of The CRAFT Institute (CRAFT), Dr. Ndounou recently spearheaded the International Black Theatre Summit (IBTS) in Ghana, marking a significant milestone in the vision to develop, promote, and sustain black storytelling.
This 4th biennial convening served as a vital platform for scholars and practitioners in theater, film, television, related media, and tech to strategize the future of black narratives across various platforms. Ghana’s longstanding history of Pan-Africanism and a strong relationship with the United States as embodied by the work and life experiences of W.E.B. DuBois, made it an ideal location for the IBTS 2025’s whose theme was to “Create. Connect. Heal.”
IBTS was energetic, teeming with creativity, business acumen and vision. Luminaries in attendance included Princess Akosua Busia (NETTIE, The Color Purple 1985), Ambassador H.E. Abena Pokua Adompim Busia, Dr. Esi Sutherland-Addy (PANAFEST Chairperson), and daughter of the late Ghanaian playwright Efua Sutherland), Tony Award Nominee Michele Shay, Tony Award-winner Tonya Pinkins, television and film director Christine Swanson, and celebrated actress Vanessa E. Williams, to name a few.
CRAFT designed a program to both facilitate a “think-tank structure” and a bridge across cultures. Their team named the daily opening sessions “Church”. This moniker created a vehicle through which “music, performance, reverence, communion, and creativity could occur,” Ndounou shared. Traditional drummers, song, monologues, and recitation assured attendees and guests alike that IBTS is not a traditional conference. It is a convening of ideas, performance, strategic planning, and capacity building, marked by connection. The collaborative spirit of the attendees filled the beachside meeting space in preparation for words of wisdom and inspiration by those in attendance, including experts in the field.
Much like the previous convenings, the CRAFT Institute endeavored to reinforce the importance of ongoing connections long after the Summit concluded. Nick Hella, Gabonese producer of the feature film Afrotopia, offers, “I saw [IBTS] as a way to bridge the gap between two people who were separated. Being here was proof that we are on the same path, and we have something to share, to grow in common, and IBTS was like the first step.”
Recognizing the need to share and grow, Create Ensemble was founded in 2019 in direct response to the needs expressed by participants of IBTS 2018. Create Ensemble is a subscription-based platform for organizations and creatives. One of its many features allows users to create and manage project fundraisers. It also allows users to build a team sourced through the platform for their projects. Create Ensemble was the official digital platform for IBTS 2025 registration and ongoing community-building and networking for participants.
As the IBTS continues to evolve, plans are already underway for 2027 and 2029. Ndounou envisions the summit becoming an annual event, alternating between the African Diaspora and the African continent to ensure ongoing engagement and collaboration. “We want everyone who participates to imagine what the future of black storytelling will look like 100 years from now and how to support it,” urges Ndounou.
With the CRAFT Institute’s commitment to fostering equitable access and celebrating the contributions of black creatives, they continue to lead the initiative to celebrate Black Theatre Day (September 17), an annual day of solidarity and service to celebrate and support 21st century Black theatres in their ongoing efforts to build sustainable, institutional wealth.
Black Theatre Day honors the legacy of the African Grove Theatre, the first known Black professional theatre company in the United States, and marks the anniversary of its inaugural performance of “Richard III” on September 17, 1821.
The 2025 International Black Theatre Summit in Ghana stands as a testament to The CRAFT Institute’s dedication to amplifying Ancestral Intelligence™ by creating culturally inclusive eco-systems in which practitioners, scholar-artists, and patrons can unite to inspire the next generation.
For more information about IBTS, visit thecraftinstitute.org. Follow Black Theater Day @BlackTheatreDay and The Craft Institute @thecraftinstitute on Instagram.
This article was written by Nsenga K. Burton, Ph.D., founder and editor-in-chief of The Burton Wire. Follow The Burton Wire on IG @TheBurtonWire or Meta @BurtonWireNews.
