Nina Simone’s connections with Africa live on

Legendary singer and civil rights activist Nina Simone, who died last year, lived and sang all over the world. But her connection to New Jersey and Ghana may help preserve her legacy of educating children of African and African-American descent. A royal delegation from Ghana has visited Essex County to promote the Nina Simone Foundation, a nonprofit organisation created by her daughter, Lisa Simone Kelly. The foundation has been given 50 acres in Jukwa near Cape Coast to create the Nina Simone Cultural Village, said Kelly. The village will have a hospital and a school and also will be a showcase for "artisans and craftsmen," Kelly said. "We want to have African-Americans from all over the world to visit."