Vic Mensa is as dedicated to his activism as he is to his music. He’s been using his platform to address the lack of fresh water in parts of Ghana.
According to Helio PR, “a recent study in Ghana indicated that about 60% of water bodies in the area are polluted,” leading to serious health risks for those who drink it.
By now, perhaps you’ve heard that Afrochella, a music festival in Ghana, took its final bow this year. However, Mensa will be part of the lineup for the Black Star Line Festival on January 6, 2023. Open to the public, the festivities will go down in Black Star Square in Accra, the capital city.
Like Afrochella, the Black Star Line Festival centers on Black talent. This year, Mensa will be in good company alongside the likes of Erykah Badu, T Pain, Chance The Rapper and others.
According to the website, “the festival is expected to provide a unique rap and hip-hop vibe that will thrill spectators. It welcomes all diaspora Africans and more.”
What Is Mensa's Link To Ghana?
Raised in Chicago, Mensa is the son of a Ghanaian economics professor and is proud of his West African roots.
According to Helio PR, “after witnessing firsthand the water contamination in his ancestral village, Mensa linked up with his father to develop a solution and build a new borehole in the region.”
These manual pumps are key to helping residents get the fresh water all humans need. However, they can be expensive to construct; around $15,000 or so each.
Helio PR notes, “the boreholes are significantly lacking in Ghana and across the continent.”
How Is The Water Contaminated?
It’s easy for those of us who have access to clean drinking water to take it for granted.
But plenty in the world aren’t so privileged and the consequences of consuming dirty water are both serious and numerous.
Helio PR shed light what causes the contamination.
“Many activities including domestic use of water in river bodies, household and industrial waste, and agricultural pollution among others lead to the pollution of water bodies.”
“In response to this, several studies have been conducted to examine and evaluate the quality of drinking water in Ghana. These studies revealed that most of the drinking water sources were micro-biologically contaminated and may cause water-related diseases such as typhoid, diarrhea and dysentery when consumed.”
In extreme cases, it can even lead to death.
Where Specifically Will The Boreholes Be?
With the Koforidua borehole completed, Mensa seeks to build more of them in other communities in Ghana.
“We’re building three boreholes in different communities in Ghana to provide clean drinking water,” he explained. “The first being the Asokore Zongo in Koforidua where my family lives, which is already built.”
“The other locations are a nearby community called Efiduase and then our ancestral village in the Volta Region, Amedzope. Most people in communities like this in Ghana experience constant water borne diseases.”
Mensa Emphasized The Importance Of Honoring African Ancestry
In an interview with TMZ, Mensa said, “in its essence, this festival is about connecting Black people of the globe. Beyond nation states. Beyond all of those colonial boundaries. This is about African people coming together.”
He added, “the connection to our ancestry has been stolen from so many of us. I feel if we can forge that bond, then we’ve got the power to go above and beyond all the trauma we’ve experienced.”