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Established on 22nd June 1985, the W.E.B. Du Bois Centre for Pan-African Culture in Accra stands as a living memorial to one of the most influential scholars, civil rights pioneers, and Pan-Africanists of the 20th century — Dr. William Edward Burghardt Du Bois.


To realize the objective for which the Centre was set up, the Du Bois Centre organizes activities which include:

Lectures –

Public lectures throughout the year and the annual Du Bois-Padmore-Nkrumah Pan African Lectures which form part of activities marking the re-entrance of Dr. Du Bois mortal remains at the Centre in August each year.

Seminar/Workshops –

Intellectuals, artists or other cultural experts sharing their knowledge and experience with an open audience.

Film/Video-Talks -

Screening of significant films and video followed by discussions led by experts in the relevant fields.

Schools Outreach Programme –

Involves the development in the youth of the consciousness required for the attainment of the goals for which the Centre was established.

Recruited personnel and invited speakers organize lectures and symposia in schools and other institutions and establish Pan African Clubs as a means to educate, mobilize and organize the youth.

Guided Tour –

Visitors are given a tour of this national monument comprising the tomb of Dr. W. E. B. Du Bois and his wife Shirley Graham, the Du Bois Personal Library and more of the Du Bois legacy.

Founding of DuBois Memorial Centre

The Centre is largely funded by the Government of Ghana with a small amount of funds being generated by tours.

The staff are civil service employees whose continued employment is assured.

But the funds provided for the maintenance of the Centre are meagre. All monies go toward keeping utilities operating, and money for programmes upkeep and growth are not available.


The Centre continues to survive but it does thrive.

3 Slider Pages

The Museum Library and Seminar Room, located in his former home, are now in urgent need of restoration and refurbishment. The Library, housing Dr. DuBois' personal collection along with a range of works related to him and Pan Africanism, requires expansion to achieve international recognition. Visitors must obtain special permission to access Du Bois' personal library if they wish to view the list of books he used for his studies.

Slide 1

The deterioration of the Centre is apparent, even to the casual visitor. Its lack of programming is concerning to those who wish to see Dr. DuBois's ideals broadly embraced by Ghanaians, young people of African descent in the diaspora, researchers, and anyone interested in learning more about Dr. DuBois and Pan-Africanism. Due to inadequate funding and internal mismanagement, the Centre has managed to survive but is unable to thrive.

Slide 2

The doors may be open, but there is little to see and even less to experience, aside from a somewhat amusing director and a woman who claims to oversee the museum, greeting visitors with a rather reserved demeanor.
The Memorial Centre requires "New Life" (and new management) to transform it into a hub of information, a forum for discourse, and a center for serious research in the twenty-first century. Its purpose is twofold: first, it serves as a memorial to Dr. DuBois.

Slide 3

Secondly, it aims to be a vibrant and dynamic space that promotes the ideals of Pan Africanism by demonstrating their practical applications to contemporary social, political, economic, and cultural conditions. While the Centre stands as a lovely tribute to Dr. DuBois, it must also be expressed through its programs, its expanding collection of relevant works, and its growing influence and engagement within the community, Africa, the diaspora, and the world at large.

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Monday

09:00 - 18.00

Tuesday

09:00 - 18.00

Wednesday

09:00 - 18.00

Thursday

09:00 - 18.00

Friday

09:00 - 18.00

Saturday

09:00 - 18.00

Sunday

09:00 - 18.00