W.E.B. DuBois Centre

Collins April 18, 2025

The W.E.B. Du Bois Centre is a library to commemorate the late W.E.B DuBois. The centre consists of the museum which contains memorabilia and his personal library, the Open Air Theatre where intellectual seminars, lectures and workshops are held along with cultural events. In addition is the ‘Marcus Garvey’ guest house.

The Centre hosts the annual wreath-laying ceremony for Emancipation day.

It was recently handed over to the W.E.B Du Bois Museum Foundation (USA/Ghana) is a non-profit organization established in 2019, with the exclusive mission of honouring the life, purpose, and legacy of Dr. W. E. B. Du Bois, the celebrated Civil/Human Rights activist, co-founder of the National Association for the Advancement of Coloured People (NAACP), the Father of Pan-Africanism, and one of the most essential Black voices in world history.

The foundation is undertaking a project that will redevelop and rebrand his final resting place in Accra, Ghana into an important global institution and heritage site and the hub of all things Du Bois; a Museum Complex on par with other great museums.

History of the W.E.B. Du Bois Centre

The Centre was established in 1985 by the Ghana government to encourage visitors to contemplate the ideals to Pan Africanism and to reflect upon the work of Dr. Du Bois. The W .E. B. DuBois Centre for Pan African Culture was dedicated on 22nd June 1985 in Accra, Ghana.

Dr. DuBois was referred to as the “Father of Pan Africanism” for organizing several Pan African congresses in the early half of the last century. The most significant among them was the 1945 congress in Manchester. This congress paved the way for Africa’s independence from colonialism.

Two key organizers at the conference were George Padmore and Kwame Nkrumah who was to lead Ghana to independence in 1957 becoming her first prime minister and then president in 1960 when Ghana became a republic. In 1961 Nkrumah invited Dr.DuBois to Ghana to take charge of the Encyclopedia Africana project.
Dr. DuBois accepted the invitation and became first director of the Encyclopedia Africana project, made Ghana his home and became a Ghanaian citizen.

The Centre is located on immaculate grounds of serene beauty, tucked away from the hustle and bustle of the metropolis, Accra, which surrounds it near the city’s centre. The Centre is a complex of four major buildings which include the home where Dr. DuBois spent his last years, an Administrative building, the Marcus Garvey Guest House and the tomb of Dr. DuBois and his dear wife Shirley Graham DuBois.

There is an Open Air Theatre directly behind the DuBois home in a pastoral setting. (Unfortunately not well maintained…, as so many buildings in Ghana). Visitors can readily understand why the “Father of Pan Africanism” enjoyed the peace of his last home (At a time, the location was well maintained and taken care of…)

Now, however, the Museum Library and Seminar Room which are in his former home are in dire need of restoration and refurbishing. The Library, which contains Dr. DuBois’ Personal library and a collection of works related to Dr. DuBois and Pan Africanism also needs to be expanded in order to create a library of international stature. (Visitors need a special permission, to gain access to Du Bois personal Library, if they wish to obtain the list of books, Du Bois used to study.)

The deterioration of the Centre is obvious even to the casual visitor. It`s paucity of programmes is alarming to individuals who desire to see the ideals of Dr. DuBois widely shared with Ghanaians, young people of African descent in the diaspora, researchers and all those who are interested in learning more about Dr. DuBois and Pan Africanism. Due to its current funding and mismanagement within, the Centre has been allowed to survive: yet unable to thrive.

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The doors remain open, but there is little to see and much less to experience. (except some “funny director” and a women, who claims to be in charge of the museum. Receiving you rather reserved.)

The Memorial Centre needs “New Life”, (and a new management), if it is to become the source of information, a forum for discourse, and a place of serious research into the twenty-first century. The purpose of the Centre is two-fold. First it is to be a memorial to Dr. DuBois.

Secondly, it is to be a vital, dynamic centre which promotes the ideals of Pan Africanism by demonstrating practical applications to today’s social, political, economic and cultural conditions. Certainly, the Centre remains a lovely memorial to Dr. DuBois. However, it expressed through its programmes, its growing collection of relevant works and its awakening influence and interest aroused in the community, Africa, the diaspora and the world at large.