In a vibrant atmosphere filled with anticipation and excitement, the press launch for Festac Africa 2025 took place on Tuesday, 10th June, 2025 at the Ghana Tourism Authority in Accra marking a significant milestone for tourism, the creative sectors, and the broader narrative of African development.
The event, organized by the Ghana Tourism Authority in collaboration with the Festac Africa Secretariat and the Government of Ghana, aims to celebrate African heritage and foster connections across the continent emphasizing the festival’s importance in positioning Ghana as a cultural tourism hub and a beacon of Pan-African unity.
The program kicked off with a captivating poetry recital by Kwabena Prah Africa, setting the tone for the celebration of artistic expression. Kwabena Prah Africa, a well-known radio personality, actor, and spoken word artist, took the stage to perform a poignant piece titled “Broken, Woven, and Spoken,” which resonated deeply with the audience. His performance underscored the festival’s theme of reclaiming the African narrative and the importance of unity in the face of global challenges.
Mr. Yinka Abiole, Chairman of Festac Africa expressed his enthusiasm for the upcoming festival, which is set to span seven days, with the possibility of extending due to pre-events. He noted that September is recognized as Tourism Month globally, coinciding with the United Nations’ tourism week and the celebration of Kwame Nkrumah’s birthday. Mr. Abiole outlined the festival’s structure, which includes cultural performances, conferences, exhibitions, movie screenings, sports, and health screenings, anticipating over 100,000 visitors and delegates, with strong support from the African Union and cross-border participation.
The festival, aptly named “Fest in Africa,” aims to showcase the continent’s rich cultural heritage through various performances. Mr. Abiole called upon the Ghanaian community to actively participate and showcase their culture, inviting regional and continental performances, with Kenya already confirmed to present plays.
The CEO of the Ghana Tourism Authority, Maame Efua Houadjeto expressed the Authority’s delight in supporting the festival and highlighted the common threads of African fashion, characterized by colorful clothing and beads that unite the continent from north to south.
Maame Efua emphasized the significance of networking at the event, which will also include sports and health screenings. She reiterated the festival’s one-week duration and the plans for the Authority to adopt it, showcasing the commitment to its success.
The CEO of the Authority, Maame Efua Houadjeto, in her concluding remarks to enrich the festival, appealed to the FESTAC Secretariat to organise a master class for local artists as part of the programme outline for the event leveraging the presence of art dignitaries
She further stressed the importance of understanding and embracing one’s identity as a vital aspect of tourism. She expressed her excitement about the inclusion of domestic tourism in the festival, encouraging attendees to explore Ghana’s natural beauty, cultural and tourist sites, diverse people, languages, and culinary delights.
Festac Africa 2025 is a festival poised to celebrate the richness of African culture and foster unity across the continent. The call for sponsors to support this monumental event was echoed by various speakers as the Ghana Tourism Authority and its partners prepared to embark on this exciting journey towards a vibrant celebration of Africa’s heritage.
