The MIT Media Laboratory, The Center for International Development at Harvard University and The Berkman Center for Internet & Society at Harvard Law School organized a two-day conference on e-Development: Enabling Communities to shape their future on 19 and 20 October 2000. Real Video arquives of the principal sessions are available on the conference site. On the evening of October 19, as session was held entitled The Rhythm of Development: Panel and Music, moderated by K. Anthony Appiah of Harvard University and including Isaac Hayes, Soul Healer (Eric Atimu Greenwood), Princess Asie Ocansey, and DJ Spooky (Paul Miller).

This event, in which a number of Ghanians and friends of Ghana participated, featured not only music, but a discussion of the role the Isaac Hayes Foundation has played in developing an ultra-modern teaching and learning center  (NekoTech) in the Ghanian Village of Ada, inspired by Princess Asie Ocansey, a local leader who made good in the United States. She recruited Isaac Hayes to support her village development efforts. Issac was given the title of King in the Royal Family of Noyami Mantse of the Kabiawe d'Ada, where he is called Nene Katey Ocansey. The Nene Katey Ocansey I Learning & Tech Center is continuing fundraising, currently seeking resources for hostel and transportation for its teachers and students.

Here is the welcome message from Nene Katey Ocansey (a.k.a. Isaac Hayes) on the NekoTech website.

I have tried several times to explain the chill I felt as I walked through the slave dungeons with Dione Warwick during my first visit to Ghana in 1992. At that time, I knew my soul could never be at peace until I had done something significant on this continent of my ancestry. 

I believe my humble duty is to unlock the heavy chains of illiteracy that still continue to keep the minds of my people in abject poverty in the midst of plenty. I am deeply humbled to have the opportunity to see the fulfillment of this duty in my lifetime through the Neko Tech Center Project. Health and Technology are the two anchors that will help improve the plight of Africa in the 21st century.

Also from the Neko Tech  website:

Neko Tech Mission

To facilitate the quality of life of under served populations, particularly in rural Africa, through education in technology,  healthcare, economic development and entertainment.

Neko Tech Vision

To become a sustainable world class institution and research facility that re-educates rural Africans to enable them to fully participate in the new networked economy and to sensitize the international community, students, stakeholders and donors to rural development issues by the collaborative development of scaleable pilot projects that will effectively eradicate illiteracy, alleviate poverty and improve health and life in general especially for the poor. 

Immediately following the close of the symposium on October 20, a meeting of  visiting Ghanians, including those active in the development of the Internet in that country, Ghanian expatriates participating in the conference, and friends of Ghana held a meeting to set up a network to support e-development in Ghana.

Peter Knight, a longtime fan of Isaac Hayes,  participated in the conference and these meetings. Here are some photographs taken the evening of 19 October.

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