Accra, the national capital, is set to come alive this December as it hosts this year’s edition of “The African Festival,” an event celebrating the transformative power of culture, arts, and music while raising awareness about climate change.
The three-day festival, which kicks off with a grand opening on Saturday, December 28, 2024, at the Accra International Conference Center, will feature the iconic African musician Yvonne Chaka Chaka as the headline act.
Designed to become the world’s largest annual Pan-African gathering focused on education and contributing to Africa’s development, the festival will offer a unique platform for showcasing African cultural heritage as a catalyst for change.
With the theme “Kinako! Feel Africa, Be the Change,” the festival aims to inspire collective action on environmental sustainability across Africa. It will highlight the urgent need to address climate change, while celebrating Africa’s rich artistic diversity through a dynamic blend of theatre, music, contemporary arts, history, and traditions.
The festival promises an immersive experience, taking attendees on a journey of exploring African history and embracing its cultural adventures.
Festival Overview
Latif Abubakar, Founder of The African Festival and CEO of Globe Productions Limited, the event organizers, shared that the festival’s goal is to reignite the spirit of Pan-Africanism for sustainable development. The event will also promote climate action by using art and cultural narratives to address Africa’s environmental challenges.
Abubakar emphasized that the festival would draw on Africa’s rich heritage and traditional ecological knowledge as a solution to modern climate issues, uniting communities through a shared cultural experience that celebrates resilience and innovation in the face of climate change.
“It’s a celebration that will take attendees on a captivating journey through the rich tapestry of African history,” he said.
Dubbed “The Climate Change Edition,” the festival will focus on driving the “Be the Change” campaign through arts and culture, offering some of the biggest cultural nights in Africa for theatre enthusiasts.
Festival Highlights
Major highlights include two spectacular plays by renowned playwright Latif Abubakar: Don Quixote Africa, an African retelling of the classic European novel, and Ghana Must Go, a comedy that showcases Ghana’s rich cultural heritage, tourism, and investment opportunities.
The Afro Night Music Concert, headlined by Yvonne Chaka Chaka, will feature performances from three-time Grammy Award nominee Rocky Dawuni, MUSIGA President Bisa Simons, Okyeame Kwame, and other top artists promoting climate awareness and sustainable living. The concert will unite Pan-African musicians who perform traditional, authentic African music.
Attractions
Other attractions include “The Den of History” and “The African Food Festival,” where African stories will be told through outdoor film screenings and fireside storytelling. The festival will also feature exhibitions of sustainable African cuisines, with a focus on plant-based and eco-friendly dishes.
Iconic structures like the Pyramid of Giza, the Seven Wonders of Africa, the Larabanga Mosque, the Kwame Nkrumah Museum, the Nelson Mandela Capture Site, and contemporary art installations by Ghanaian artist Ibrahim Mahama will also be showcased. Patrons can enjoy activities like camel rides on a model desert.
Family and Children’s Activities
The festival will feature climate-themed activities for children and families, aimed at fostering environmental awareness in younger generations.
Tickets
Tickets for the festival are priced at GHC250 per day or GHC600 for all three days. Tickets can be purchased by dialing 71470# or visiting www.theafricanfestival.com.
Partnership
The African Festival, powered by Globe Productions Limited, is in partnership with the African Women and Children’s Conference (AFRIWOCC) and PricewaterhouseCoopers (PwC), with support from the Ghana Broadcasting Corporation, Graphic Communications Group Ltd., and The Media General Group.