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SEKONDI, Ghana – Commander, Naval Forces Europe subset band 'The Diplomats' continued their support of Africa Partnership Station Nashville during a recent port visit to Sekondi, Ghana, performing a grueling schedule to help spread the APS theme of international cooperation through music.
The five-piece band played more than 20 gigs during the 18-day port visit, including stops at children's shelters and schools, along with several official performances both aboard USS Nashville and on the Sekondi Naval Base.
The schedule allowed Ghanaians to witness the U.S. Navy and APS in a different light, said Petty Officer 1st Class Duke Stuble.
"We were able to bring APS to places where the rest of the mission was not able to reach," he said. "We performed in schools and children shelters where the kids had no idea what APS was, and they left the concerts with at least the concept of partnership. It was definitely in the spirit of what APS is trying to accomplish."
Highlighting the extended port visit was a trio of joint performances with a
Ghanaian navy band – encounters that proved unique for The Diplomats.
"It was a first chance I have had to do that in the Navy," Stuble said. "To have [the Ghana navy band] open their arms to us and let us learn and play their music was special to us. Playing another culture's music for their people was an amazing experience."
With English serving as Ghana's official language, there were no real communication barriers between the bands to overcome. The Diplomats did, however, need to quickly learn a different style of music than their typical fare.
That caused a few minor issues, said Petty Officer 2nd Class Tony Carter.
"While we aren't really a rock band, we are used to a more upbeat style of music for our performances," he said. "They have a different way of feeling a lot of the rhythms. Their grooves have more of what I would call an 'island' feel to them. It's very laid back and difficult to learn on the fly."
That must not have been noticeable to the crowds the band drew throughout its stay though, as hundreds turned up to see and dance along with The Diplomats' musical stylings. The band is known for covering songs from American musical standard-bearers such as James Brown, Ray Charles, and the Eagles among additional R&B and pop tunes.
"I was surprised at how much of our music the kids here were familiar with," Carter said. "At several of our performance, the kids went absolutely nuts dancing and bouncing around to the rhythms. Seeing Ghanaian children jamming out to 'I Feel Good' or 'Hotel California' is a very wonderful thing to witness."
It all added up to an once-in-a-lifetime opportunity to help with the APS mission.
"We always understand and appreciate our job of playing music and interacting with local people," Carter said. "But being able to play here feels different. I'll never have a chance like this again."
APS is an international initiative under the auspices of Naval Forces Africa which aims to work cooperatively with U.S., European and African partners to enhance maritime safety and security on the African continent. APS provides a unique venue to align maritime engagements by utilizing an international team of expert trainers in a variety of military capacities and civilian fields such as fisheries management, port security and meteorology.
Nashville arrived, Feb. 20, in Sekondi, Ghana, the second African port of its five-month deployment in support of Africa Partnership Station. After departing from Sekondi, APS Nashville will transit to Lagos, Nigeria.
To learn more about Africa Partnership Station and its mission, visit the APS website at www.c6f.navy.mil/aps_web/index.htm.
| Date Taken: | 03.08.2009 |
| Date Posted: | 03.08.2009 09:30 |
| Story ID: | 30869 |
| Location: | SEKONDI, GH |
| Web Views: | 258 |
| Downloads: | 248 |
This work, 'Diplomats' spreading a different brand of partnership in Ghana, by CPO Charles Ludwig, identified by DVIDS, must comply with the restrictions shown on https://www.dvidshub.net/about/copyright.
