Winneba Masquerade Festival : The First Party Of The Year In Ghana

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If you want to start your New Year with colour, celebration, and pure energy, there is only one place to be on 1st January, Winneba . While everybody is still sleeping after 31st Night, Winneba is already awake. Drums, brass band, costumes, masks. This is the Winneba Masquerade Festival, locally called Fancy Dress. It is the first major festival in Ghana every year. And it is the second biggest festival in Winneba after Aboakyer. There is a morning in Winneba that does not feel like any other morning in Ghana. By 7am, you can hear it. The brass band far away. The drum, shouting and the crowd. If you are in Winneba on that day, you cannot stay in your room. The sound will drag you out. I remember the first time I followed the sound. I thought something had happened. I thought maybe there was a funeral. But when I reached the road, I saw something I had never seen before. Men wearing masks. Big, colourful, scary, beautiful masks. Some looked like animals. Some looked like old white men ...

Scooby-Doo Creator Ken Spears Dies Aged 82

The co-creator of the popular cartoon, Scooby-Doo, Ken Spears has died at the age of 82.His death comes less than three months after his animation partner, Joe Ruby, also passed away.





TV writer and producer, Ken Spears, who co-created the character of Scooby-Doo, died on Friday.

He passed away from complications related to Lewy body dementia, according to multiple reports. He was 82.

His son, Kevin noted that Ken will forever be remembered for his wit, story-telling, loyalty to family, and strong work ethic.

Kevin said, “Ken has not only made a lasting impression on his family, but he has touched the lives of many as the co-creator of ‘Scooby-Doo.’ Ken has been a role model for us throughout his life and he will continue to live on in our hearts.”

Spears and Ruby, both of whom worked for the famed Hanna-Barbera Productions, also created the popular series “Dynomutt” and “Jabberjaw.” But, undoubtedly they were most famously known for creating ‘Scooby.’

The popular animated series first aired on CBS in 1969 with Ruby and Spears writing the first five episodes then editing and supervising the rest of that inaugural series.

Scooby aired until 1976, but there have been a lot of spin-offs, reboots and movies.

Spears wasn’t limited to just cartoons either. He was also a story consultant for the 1974 TV series, “Planet of the Apes.”

He is survived by his two sons, five grandchildren and three great-grandchildren.