Oral Ofori
{{short description|Ghanaian-American digital storyteller}}
{{EngvarB|date=December 2018}}
{{Infobox person
| name = Oral Ofori
| image = Oral Ofori in Virginia, United States.jpg
| image_size =
| landscape =
| alt = Oral Kwame Ofori
| nationality = Ghanaian-American
| birth_date = {{Birth_date|1980|01|26}}
| birth_place = Tema, Ghana
| years_active = 2006 – present
| known_for = Founding TheAfricanDream{{cite web|title=TheAfricanDream trademark|url=https://trademarks.justia.com/901/61/theafricandream-90161591.html|website=trademarks.justia.com|accessdate=29 April 2022}}{{Cite web|url= https://www.alignable.com/cary-nc/theafricandream-llc|title=TheAfricanDream LLC Business Entity Details|website=alignable.com|access-date=2021-01-14}} and Coordinating Seminar on Ghana's RTI bill in US{{Cite news|url=https://www.modernghana.com/news/832376/forum-on-rti-bill.html|title=Ghana Embassy in U.S. to host forum on RTI bill|website=modernghana.com|date= September 2, 2020|access-date=2020-08-02|language=en-US}}{{Cite news|url=https://www.afrotide.com/seminar-ghanas-rti-bill-held-embassy-ghana-washington-dc/|title=RTI Bill forum|access-date=2020-08-02|language=en-US}}
| occupation = Digital media producer
| spouse = Alda Lee Viglione
| website = {{URL|www.oralofori.com}}
| footnotes =
}}
Oral Kwame Ofori (born January 26, 1980), professionally known as Oral Ofori, is a Ghanaian-American award-winning{{Cite web|url=https://wpaa.tv/about/wpaatv/awards/|title=WPAA Tv award}}{{cite web|url=https://beeniewords.com/oral-ofori-of-the-african-dream-bags-another-us-award-this-time-in-washington-dc/?|title=2020 Top Media Awardees|date=10 September 2020 |access-date = September 12, 2020}} digital media producer and blogger,{{Cite web|url=https://www.ghanaweb.com/GhanaHomePage/diaspora/TV-Producer-Blogger-from-Ghana-wins-award-in-the-USA-323623|title=TV Producer/Blogger from Ghana wins award in the USA|website=www.ghanaweb.com|date=30 August 2014 |language=en|access-date=2018-11-27}}{{Cite news|url=http://bloggerweek.com/blogger-week-ambassadors/|title=Blogger Week Ambassadors - Blogger Week UnConference|work=Blogger Week UnConference|access-date=2018-11-27|language=en-US}}{{Cite web|url=https://www.ghanaweb.com/GhanaHomePage/entertainment/TheAfricanDream-show-produced-by-Oral-Ofori-on-FPA-passes-50th-episode-695697|title=#TheAfricanDream show produced by Oral Ofori on FPA passes 50th episode|website=www.ghanaweb.com|date=26 October 2018 |language=en|access-date=2018-11-27}} freelance journalist, entrepreneur, and writer. Born in Tema, he is also the founder of the US-based communication consultancy TheAfricanDream LLC.{{Cite web|url=https://cis.scc.virginia.gov/EntitySearch/BusinessInformation?businessId=845771&source=FromEntityResult&isSeries=False|title=TheAfricanDream LLC Business Entity Details|website=sccefile.scc.virginia.gov|access-date=2018-11-27}} In February 2018 Ofori took on a language interpretation job as a level II interpreter of the Twi and Ga language with the Fairfax County Public Schools system{{Cite web|url=https://www.linkedin.com/in/oral-ofori-1862bb19|title=Interpreter|website=LinkedIn|access-date=2019-02-22}} and almost 4 years afterwards in December 2021 he started work with the Embassy of Ghana, Washington, D.C. as Head of the Customer Relations Office{{Cite web|url=https://ghanaembassydc.org/news-and-events/infinity-global-connections-hosts-ghanas-ambassador-to-the-us-for-a-2-day-trip-in-detroit-michigan/|title=Ofori at Ghana Embassy in U.S.|website=Ghana Embassy, DC|date=4 March 2022 |access-date=2022-03-04}}{{Cite web|url=https://ghanaembassydc.org/author/admin/|title=Some publications posted in tenure of Ofori at the Embassy|access-date=2022-02-26}} under Ambassador Alima Mahama. Mr Ofori's firm TheAfricanDream LLC{{Cite web|url=https://www.theafricandream.co|title=TheAfricanDream LLC is a media research consultancy
|website=theafricandream.co}} partnered the Washington DC government in the United States in February 2024 to provide media for the event dubbed Africa on the Avenue to support local businesses.{{cite web|url=https://www.districtbridges.org/events/africa-on-the-avenue/|title=Africa on the Avenue 2024|publisher=District Bridges|accessdate=20 March 2024}}
Early life, career and education
Born to Ghanaian parents in Tema, Oral Ofori graduated from Chemu Senior High School in 1998 and completed his journalism studies at the London School of Journalism in 2006. The following year, he began an internship with the Voice of America (VOA) in Washington, D.C., as a radio news reporter and contributor.{{Cite web|url=http://newsvideo.su/video/7282494|title=Oral Ofori #JollofFestival Organizer is Interviewed by Vincent Makori – VOA Africa News|website=newsvideo.su|language=en|access-date=2018-11-27}}{{Cite news|url=https://www.voanews.com/a/a-13-2008-02-08-voa23-66629517/556776.html|title=British Philanthropist and Sports Gear Company Campaign for World Peace|work=VOA|access-date=2018-11-27|language=en}}
Ofori is also a columnist for Ghanaian news websites such as GhanaWeb,{{Cite web|url=http://www.ghanaweb.com/GhanaHomePage/features/columnist.php?S=Ofori,%20Oral|title=Columnist Ofori, Oral|website=www.ghanaweb.com|language=en|access-date=2018-11-27}} ModernGhana,{{Cite web|url=https://www.modernghana.com/search/?q=Oral+Ofori|title=Modern Ghana|website=www.modernghana.com|language=en|access-date=2018-11-27}} and the US-based Afrikan Post newspaper.{{Cite news|url=https://issuu.com/afrikanpost/docs/september_2016_online_version/25|title=September 2016 online version|work=Issuu|access-date=2018-11-27|language=en}} He has also contributed to publications including the Los Angeles Sentinel,{{Cite web|url=https://lasentinel.net/?s=TheAfricanDream|title=You searched for TheAfricanDream - Los Angeles Sentinel|website=Los Angeles Sentinel|language=en-US|access-date=2018-11-27}} Swedish news magazine Beyond Borders,{{Cite web|url=https://www.rebtel.com/en/beyond-borders/searches/?pattern=TheAfricanDream|title=Search result {{!}} Beyond Borders|website=Beyond Borders Magazine|language=en|access-date=2018-11-27}} the Dallas Weekly,{{Cite web|url=https://www.dallasweekly.com/search/?sd=desc&l=25&sort=relevance&f=html&t=article,video,youtube,collection&app=editorial&nsa=eedition&q=Oral+Ofori|title=Search|last=Weekly|first=The Dallas|website=The Dallas Weekly|language=en|access-date=2018-11-27}} the North Dallas Gazette,{{Cite web|url=https://northdallasgazette.com/?s=Oral+Ofori|title=You searched for Oral Ofori - North Dallas Gazette|website=North Dallas Gazette|date=26 December 2015 |language=en-US|access-date=2018-11-27}} and the Baltimore Times.{{Cite web|url=http://m.baltimoretimes-online.com/news/2016/jan/06/kenyan-artist-almaz-keep-indigenous-music-alive/|title=Kenyan artist Almaz to keep indigenous music alive|first=Oral|last=Ofori|website=m.baltimoretimes-online.com|language=en|date=2016-01-06|access-date=2018-11-27}}
Since 2014, Ofori has been host and producer of #TheAfricanDream show{{Cite web|url=https://www.fcac.org/search/node/theafricandream|title=Search|website=Fairfax Public Access}} aired on Fairfax, Virginia Public-access television's{{Cite web|url=https://www.ghanaweb.com/GhanaHomePage/entertainment/TheAfricanDream-show-produced-by-Oral-Ofori-on-FFA-passes-50th-episode-695697|title=#TheAfricanDream show produced by Oral Ofori on FPA passes 50th episode|website=www.ghanaweb.com|date=26 October 2018 |language=en|access-date=2018-11-27}}{{cite web|url=https://www.fcac.org/channel-30-programs|title=#TheAfricanDream show|publisher=www.fcac.org|accessdate=23 July 2024}} channel 30.
Reporting and interviews
Ofori formally started a blog in 2011 {{Cite web|url=https://oralofori.blogspot.com/2011/10/|title=Oral Ofori's first blog|website=oralofori.blogspot.com|date=24 October 2011 |language=en|access-date=2021-08-30}} and has since then written about or interviewed persons including Mayor Peter Bossman,{{Cite web|url=https://www.theafricandream.net/mayor-peter-bossman-piran-slovenia-theafricandream-net/|title=Mayor Peter Bossman of Piran in Slovenia on TheAfricanDream.net|website=www.theafricandream.net|date=6 June 2017 |language=en|access-date=2018-11-27}} scientist and fiber optics innovator Dr. Thomas Mensah,{{Cite news|url=http://northdallasgazette.com/2015/12/01/44603/|title=Dr. Thomas Mensah identify paths to industrialize Africa - North Dallas Gazette|date=2015-12-01|work=North Dallas Gazette|access-date=2018-11-27|language=en-US}} Anthony K. Wutoh; Howard University Provost and Chief Academic Officer,{{Cite web|url=https://www2.howard.edu/howard-appoints-dr-anthony-k-wutoh-provost-and-chief-academic-officer|title=Howard Appoints Dr. Anthony K. Wutoh, Provost And Chief Academic Officer {{!}} Howard University|website=www2.howard.edu|language=en|access-date=2018-11-27}}{{Cite news|url=http://www.ghlinks.com.gh/howard-university-partners-google-raise-percentage-black-computer-scientist-engineers/|title=Howard University Partners with Google to raise percentage of black computer scientist and engineers|date=2017-07-06|work=GhLinks.com.gh™|access-date=2018-11-27|language=en-US}} and musician and artist Koby Maxwell.{{Cite web|url=http://www.ghanaweb.com/GhanaHomePage/diaspora/Koby-Maxwell-to-celebrate-Ghana-independence-in-American-Diaspora-409443|title=Koby Maxwell to celebrate Ghana independence in American Diaspora|website=www.ghanaweb.com|date=21 January 2016 |language=en|access-date=2018-11-27}}
Some of his other interview subjects have been Deborah Addo of INOVA Hospitals in the US,{{Cite web|url=https://www.inova.org/about-us/leadership/deborah-addo|title=Deborah Addo, CEO of Inova Loudoun Hospital - Inova|last=Inova|website=www.inova.org|language=en|access-date=2018-11-27}}{{Cite web|url=http://www.ghanaweb.com/GhanaHomePage/diaspora/Deborah-Addo-CEO-of-Inova-Mount-Vernon-hospital-has-Ghana-connection-342789|title=Deborah Addo, CEO of Inova Mount Vernon hospital has Ghana connection|website=www.ghanaweb.com|date=16 January 2015 |language=en|access-date=2018-11-27}} Grammy-nominated musician and activist Rocky Dawuni,{{Cite web|url=https://www.theafricandream.net/?s=Rocky+Dawuni|title=Rocky Dawuni - The African Dream|website=The African Dream|language=en-US|access-date=2018-11-27}} sportscaster Sonny Young of Voice Of America,{{cite web | url=https://blogs.voanews.com/sonny/author/syoung/ | archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20131127124012/http://blogs.voanews.com/sonny/author/syoung/ | url-status=dead | archive-date=November 27, 2013 | title=Sonny Young – Sonny Side of Sports | date=3 August 2018 }} historic Quander family member Rohulamin Quander,{{Cite news|url=https://hypercitigh.com/news/international-news/rohulamin-quander-of-the-historic-african-american-quander-family/|title=Quander family member|website=www.Hypercitigh.com|language=en-US|access-date=2019-04-29}} Hege Hertzberg, former Ambassador of Norway to Ghana, Gambia, Mali, Burkina Faso and Liberia, and among others Howard University Professor Michael C. Campbell.{{Cite news|url=https://newsroom.howard.edu/newsroom/static/7816/hu-biologist-s-participation-study-leads-genetic-discovery-challenging-skin|title=HU Biologist's Participation in Study Leads to Genetic Discovery Challenging Skin Color as Characteristic of Race|date=2017-11-21|work=Howard Newsroom|language=en-US|access-date=2018-11-27}}
Recognitions
References
{{Reflist|30em}}
External links
{{commons}}
- {{Instagram|oralofori}}
- {{Facebook|oralofori}}
- {{Twitter|oralofori}}
- [http://www.oralofori.com www.oralofori.com]
{{authority control}}
{{DEFAULTSORT:Ofori, Oral}}
Category:Ghanaian mass media people
Category:21st-century journalists
Category:21st-century Ghanaian journalists
Category:American people of Ghanaian descent