Who do you think you are?

With the 50th anniversary of Ghana's independence coming up in March - an event that symbolised the beginning of the end of colonialism in Africa - the BBC's new competition for Africa explores the continent's identity.

Here, the BBC's Kwaku Sakyi-Addo describes who he is.

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I am African.
I am Ghanaian.
I am Akan.
And I am human.

Yet when I am in America, I am nothing except African.

Who, in South Dakota, cares whether you are a Nubian or a Libyan; Omotswana or Omoitsikere?

You all look and sound the same... and carry the same illness.

If I am in Europe, I am first an African - then I am Ghanaian second.

Europeans tend to appreciate the subtle differences among people from my continent.

And when I am in another African country - I am Ghanaian-African.

I like to express my Africanness through the uniqueness of being Ghanaian.

21st century reality

But at home, I am Ghanaian first, and then I am Akan.

Sure, Ghana is the artificial construction of 19th century European political draftsmen who sketched haphazardly, and artisans who laid their bricks rather randomly.

The zebra need not pronounce its zebritude

But I live in 21st century reality.

I am sustained by Akan blood. But I cannot present that in a vial to the immigration desk at Heathrow.

"Passport please!"

As for being African at home, that is as the stripes of the zebra. It is a given.

More like Wole Soyinka's tiger and its tigritude, as against Leopold Sedar Senghor's Negro who waxes into poetry over his negritude, the zebra need not pronounce on its zebritude. It simply stripes!

My full lips speak eloquently enough of my equatorial ancestry: of my place in the tropical sun; of what and who I am.

But for the avoidance of doubt, I shall say it one more time: I am African; I am Ghanaian; I am Akan and I am human.

WHO DO YOU THINK YOU ARE?

Let us know whether you identify yourself first and foremost with your family, your ethnic group, your country, your region or your continent. How does that affect the way you behave and the way you see the world?

If you have photos to accompany your contribution send them to [e-mail], otherwise use the form at the bottom of the page.

Entries should be no more than 300 words.

The best will be published on the BBC News website, broadcast on the BBC World Service's Network Africa programme and entered into a prize draw to win a week-long visit to London.

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