Hello everyone. I would like to personally thank all those who offered their support during my struggles with immigration over the past couple of weeks. I am VERY pleased to report than Francis Akotuah arrived safely in Toronto today from Ghana!!

HRDC and the AFM were instrumental in helping the process along with their prompt processing of the necessary paperwork after we discovered that the Canadian High Commission in Ghana has misadvised us in terms of visa application procedures. Also a big thanks to Derek Andrews; Nadine McNulty and Olivia Chow’s office for assisting and counseling me during the back and forth with the CIC. I am also very grateful to the Canada Council for the Arts for believing in this project from the beginning and continuing to promote projects of quality that would often not be possible without their support.

It is clear that there are problems with Canada’s process for issuing visas and I would like to challenge the Harper Government to reforming it. If they are truly interested in supporting arts and culture, artists like myself should not be at risk of squandering money and time working on projects that are designed to enrich Canadians while having to go through the current confusing and frustrating system.

For those of you who are interested in seeing Francis in action (and in some cases joining in the action), please read on.

Larry Graves

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Oct 18: Francis will perform with Mr. Something Something at Kent ST. in Simcoe 8pm. $14 advance (for tickets contact 519 426-5639).

Oct 24: Akpokli Drums and Songs featuring Francis Kofi Akotuah/Larry Graves, Mercury Lounge, Ottawa. 8pm. $8 at the door.

Oct 31: Francis will perform with Mr. Something Something for our Halloween Party at the Lula Lounge in Toronto. 9pm. $15.

Nov 2: Worlds Of Music Toronto will be presenting a drumming workshop with Francis Kofi Akotuah and Larry Graves at the Concord Cafe (937 Bloor) in Toronto. 1:30-430pm. $15.

Nov 9: Francis will guest with Larry’s percussion group, performing select drumming and song repertory from Ghana as well as some of Larry’s original material at the Concord Cafe (937 Bloor) in Toronto. 8pm. $10.

Nov 15: Akpokli Drum and Dance group featuring Francis Kofi Akotuah at the Black Sheep Inn, Wakefield, PQ. 8pm. $10.

Nov 17: The music faculty at the University of McGill presents student workshops (10am-3pm) with Francis Akotuah and an evening concert at Gerts, the student pub with Larry and guests (8pm).