Attraction
Kwame Nkrumah Memorial Park
The memorial park where Kwame Nkrumah declared Ghana's independence, holding the marble mausoleum of Ghana's first president and his wife, plus a museum and library.
W.E.B. Du Bois Centre for Pan African Culture
The former Accra home of W.E.B. Du Bois, now a memorial centre with his tomb, a small museum and his personal library, under restoration from 2026.
At a glance
- Type
- Memorial museum and mausoleum
- Area
- Cantonments, Accra, Ghana
- Official site
- webdbmf.org
Good to know
- Museum
- Tombs of W.E.B. and Shirley Graham Du Bois
- Open-air theatre
- Library
Why we recommend it
The W.E.B. Du Bois Centre for Pan African Culture occupies the house in Cantonments where the African American scholar and campaigner W.E.B. Du Bois spent his final years. Du Bois, often called the father of Pan-Africanism, moved to Ghana in 1961 at the invitation of Kwame Nkrumah to direct the Encyclopedia Africana project, became a Ghanaian citizen and died in this house on 27 August 1963. The Ghanaian government opened the centre to the public on 22 June 1985, and it was declared a national memorial later that year.
The complex is small and contemplative rather than grand. It includes Du Bois's last home, which holds memorabilia and his personal library, an administrative building, a guest house named after Marcus Garvey, an open-air theatre used for lectures and cultural events, and the tombs of Du Bois and his second wife, the writer and composer Shirley Graham Du Bois. An exhibition titled The Du Boises in Ghana covers the couple's years in the country. Every year the centre hosts a wreath-laying ceremony for Emancipation Day, which draws members of the African diaspora.
The centre is now managed with the W.E.B. Du Bois Museum Foundation, a non-profit set up in 2019, which has announced a long-term plan for a larger museum complex supported by a grant from the Mellon Foundation. The first phase, a restoration of Du Bois's bungalow, was due to start in April 2026, with the restored house expected to be dedicated in February 2027. Later phases are planned to add a new exhibition museum, a research library and a new mausoleum. Because of these works, parts of the site may be closed or rearranged, so call ahead before making a special trip.
The visit suits readers of Du Bois, students of African American and Pan-African history, and diaspora travellers who come to Ghana partly to trace these connections. It is quieter and more personal than the Kwame Nkrumah Memorial Park, and the two make a meaningful pair. Allow about an hour. Access to Du Bois's personal library has traditionally needed special permission, so researchers should make arrangements in advance.
The centre is on Circular Road in Cantonments, a leafy embassy district a few metres from the United States Embassy and close to Ghana International School. It is easily reached by taxi or ride-hailing car from Osu, which is a few minutes away and has plenty of places to eat afterwards.
W.E.B. Du Bois Centre for Pan African Culture FAQs
Who was W.E.B. Du Bois?
An African American scholar and campaigner, often called the father of Pan-Africanism, who settled in Ghana in 1961 and died in Accra in 1963.
Is Du Bois buried here?
Yes. The complex contains the tombs of W.E.B. Du Bois and his wife, Shirley Graham Du Bois.
When did the centre open?
It opened to the public on 22 June 1985.
Is the centre under restoration?
Yes. Restoration of the bungalow was due to start in April 2026, with dedication planned for February 2027, so call before visiting.
Can I see his library?
The personal library is held at the centre; access has traditionally required special permission, so researchers should ask in advance.
How long should I allow?
About an hour for the house, exhibition and tombs.
What events take place here?
An annual wreath-laying ceremony for Emancipation Day, plus lectures and cultural events in the open-air theatre.
Where is it?
On Circular Road in Cantonments, a few metres from the United States Embassy.