The Year Of Return committee has released the official list of activities planned for the year, which ends with the This Is New Africa (TINA) Festival in January 2020
The “Year of Return, Ghana 2019” is a major landmark spiritual and birth-right journey inviting the Global African family, home and abroad, to mark 400 years of the arrival of the first enslaved Africans in Jamestown, Virginia.
Here is the list of events from Now till January 2020″
18th – 22nd August
Jamestown to Jamestown & African American Business Investment, and Development Summit
Jamestown to Jamestown is a spiritual, historical, and reconciliatory journey from August 18 – 28, 2019 from Jamestown, Virginia to Jamestown, Accra Ghana West Africa to commemorate the 400-year anniversary with a week-long series of events dur- ing the Year of Return, Ghana 2019. The highlights include a trip to Jamestown, VA, Visit to the Smithsonian National Museum of African American History and Culture, AfricanAncestry.com DNA reveals and the African American Business, Investment and Development Summit.
Organiser:- Sunseekers Tours LTD. and The Adinkra Group
19th – 25th August
Congressional Black Caucus Homecoming
Since its establishment in 1971, the Congressional Black Caucus (CBC) has been committed to using the full Constitutional power, statutory authority, and financial resources of the federal government to ensure that African Americans and other marginalized communities in the United States have the opportunity to achieve the American Dream.
14th – 25th August
Chale Wote
Chale Wote Street Art Festival also known as Chale Wote is an alternative platform that brings art, music, dance and performance out into the streets. The festival targets exchanges between scores of local and international artists and patrons by creating and appreciating art together
21st – 25th August
Black Star International Film Festival
BSIFF focuses on the business of film and advocacy in Ghana and Africa as a whole. It aims to connect the world through film and to bridge the gap between African Cinema and the rest of the world, hence positioning Ghana as a film festival and holiday destination for filmmakers, distributors, film enthusiasts, and holiday destination seekers across the globe.
Organiser:- Black Star International Film Institute
22nd – 23rd August
Benpaali Young Filmmakers Festival
Benpaali Young Filmmakers Festival was launched in Accra, Ghana as an annual event for trained and self-taught artists (15-30 years old) from Africa and the African Diaspora. Connoting a new dawn in the Bulilanguage of Northern Ghana, the goals of Benpaali are to:
Highlight the synergy between heritage & art, Provide a platform a forum for youth from diverse backgrounds to present stories that matter to them, and Connect emerging artists with more seasoned ones from Ghana/Africa & around the world.
Organiser:- Firebeads Media
23rd August
World Folklore Day
World Folklore Day is celebrated worldwide on the 22nd of August every year. The first edition was cele- brated in Ghana in 2018.The World Folklore Day 2019 Ghana slated for 23rd August 2019, will compromise a global village exhibition; a funfair displaying the rich beautiful culture of various countries.
Organiser:- National Folklore Board
23rd – 25th August
New York Kente Festival
A celebration that is based on the iconic Ghanaian artisanal fabric that is becoming quite popular.
Ghanaian Heritage and Culture Committee of New York
6th – 7th September
Voyajah Festival
In celebration of Ghana’s “Year of Return, Ghana 2019” The Voyajah Foundation will be launching their inaugural Homecoming Programme in Ghana. Highlights of the programme include a Voyajah Homecoming Festival, panel discussions, networking events, historical group tours, pop ups stores and live music performanc- es by both local and established high profile international artists. The Voyajah Foundation aims to inspire a generation by building bridges and legacies for generations to come.
Organiser:- Voyajah
21st September
Nkrumah Memorial Lecture Series
The Dubois-Padmore-Nkrumah Memorial lec- ture series is an initiative, which began in 2010. The lecture series was named by the aforemen- tioned (Dr. W.E.B. Du Bois, Mr. George Padmore and Dr. Kwame Nkrumah) for their immense contributions and achievement on Pan African- ism. The lecture commemorate the death and celebrate the achievements of political activists across the African Continent. The keynote speaker presents different topics in relation to Pan Africanism and how it relates to our lives during each organized series.
Organiser: W.E.B. Du Bois Center
20th – 23rd September
Wormanne African Ware Festival
Wormanne (meaning, Our Homeland) seeks to project the Korle Gonno as a community with a rich culture, a place of historic sites, a lineup of hotels and beach resorts. Thus, making it a tourist destination right in the city. The event is poised to popularize the sale and use of African made products/wares and simultaneously fused with entertainment ranging from folksongs and dance to Hi-life and Hip-life. The event is parked with different activities and a colourful display of artworks, crafts, clothing, jewellery, local foods, beverages and a rich traditional and cultural concept.
Organiser: Native Tribe Ghana
27th September
World Tourism Day
Celebration in honor of World Tourism Day
Organiser:- Ghana Tourism Authority
21st September
H.E.R Collective Presents Red, Black, and Gold Festival
Are you ready for the biggest event in Ghana?! H.E.R. Collective presents The RBG (real black gold) festival happening Sept 21, 2019. Hosted by the lovely ladies and founders of H.E.R(help- ing elevation rise) Collective, Queen Afia Khalia Tweneboa Kodua and Queen Nzali Johnet- ta Abraham. What can you expect? A day full of artist from all over the globe and some of Ghana’s very own local stars. Fun & games for the children such as arts & crafts, dancing competitions, food contest and so much more. There will be games and prizes for adults, raffles, icebreakers social mixer challenges, hidden fig- ures history trivia, battle of the sexes, masquerades, drum circles, folklore tales food and all kinds of fun for the entire family!!!!
Organiser:- H.E.R Collective
25th October
Madiba Humanitarian Award: Celebrating the Legacy Of Nelson Mandela.
Each October, BSMAA sponsors an annual fundraising gala to celebrate the life and legacy of Nelson “Madiba” Mandela. The South African-based Nelson Mandela Foundation has approved BSMAA’s event as: the Madiba Humanitarian Award: Celebrat- ing the Legacy Of Nelson Mandela. BSMAA’s Selection Awards Committee selects individuals who embody many of the princi- ples that guided his life.
Organiser:- The Bedford Stuyvesant Museum of African Art (BSMAA)
12th – 13th October
Ghana: Remember the Times
The exhibition will be divided into sections. The first focuses on showing the global reach that Ghanaian traditions, cultural practices and folk- lore have played outside of the country. Exam- ples include the Kwaku Ananse stories that are popular in the Caribbean; the consumption of dishes such as koose/akara/akaraje in Brazil. In parts of Jamaica, traditional practices known in Ghana are still practised including rites of pas- sage, ceremonies and libation pouring to the ancestors.z
Organiser:- The Calabash Hub
25th – 26th October
The Blueprint Conference Ghana 2019
The Jenniez School of African Interior Design (JSAID) in partnership with Blueprint Africa (BpA) will be co-host- ing the Blueprint Conference from October 25-26th in Accra, Ghana seeking to unite interior design pro- fessionals and enthusiasts around riveting panels, workshops and discussions on the role of design in the built environment. The Blueprint Conference is host- ed by JSAID, an accredited interior design vocational school based in Lagos, Nigeria. However, the Ghana- ian edition will be co-hosted with Blueprint Africa, an interior design consultancy based between Abidjan and Accra.
Organiser:- Jenniez School of African Interior Design in partnership with Blueprint Africa
2nd November
Ghana Carnival
The Ghana Carnival is an event to showcase Ghana- ian culture through vibrant costumes and dance
Organiser:-MMRS & Ministry of Tourism, Arts & Culture
29th – 30th November
Kids Fun Fair
The Kids In Tourism Annual KidsTourism Fair is an event aimed at introducing our kids to the Tourism Wealth of Mother Ghana. The maiden Edition was on the 19th of December 2017 at the Ghana Atomic Energy Park un- der the chairmanship of His Excellency Thomas Otchere, Hon Consul of Botswana. This event has been held an- nually under the chairmanship of Nii Okwei Kinka Dowu- na, Chief of OSU Traditional area in Accra on the 12 of December at the forecourt of the OSU palace.The 3rd edition was held at the Children’s park on the 8th of De- cember 2018, under the chairmanship of Hon Catherine Afeku, former Minster of Tourism.
The Theme for the Kids Tourism fair is Patriotism through Tourism. During the fair, there is a grand durbar of Chiefs and Queens of all the regions of Ghana by the kids. Also there are regional recitals on the Tourism wealth of each region by the kids.
Organiser:- Kids in Tourism
25th – 30th November
Ba Yili!
The Bureau of Ghana Languages has adopted an event to encourage the speaking of the indigenous Ghanaian languages among the citizens of Ghana and as well, create an avenue to introduce our return- ing brothers and sisters to them (indigenous Ghanaian languages). The event is dubbed “Ba Yili!”, a coinage from the fusion of two Ghanaian language words— Ga and Dagbani—translation of “Come Home!”.
Organiser:- Bureau of Ghana Languages
The Ghana Carnival is an event to showcase Ghana- ian culture through vibrant costumes and dance
Organiser:-MMRS & Ministry of Tourism, Arts & Culture
5th – 6th December
Kuenyehia Trust For Contemporary Art
Contemporary Art has through the Kuenyehia Prize identified 42 talented Ghanaian artists including in- ternationally acclaimed Bright Ackwerh, Yaw Owusu and Comfort Arthur. Artists will be selected from our shortlists to present artworks responding to the theme ”Diaspora – from local to foreign”, The artworks will be the artists’ interpretation of topical issues of “return”, resilience, identity and multiculturalism on a variety of mediums: paintings, illustrations, installations, sculp- ture, photography.
Organiser:- Kuenyehia Trust For Contemporary Art
20th December – 5th January
The V for Vanity Show: Neon Light Edition
The V for Vanity show is an interactive art experience. Following last year’s floral edition this year’s 2019 edi- tion focuses on the use of lights to illuminate the Af- rican progression from continuous subjugation and persecution to emancipation and greatness. Neon lights will be used as the primary vessel to deliver
ten interactive art installations, meticulously designed to engage and educate the audience on African culture and history.
Organiser:- Vernell Akyeampong
6th -7th December
Gold Coast Experience
This event will introduce Ghanaian festivals to African Americans and others. The rich display of culture, the Ghanaian heritage and all the intriguing activities that take place during the festivities will all be glorious sights to be part of.
Organiser:- EmergPR
21st December
AfroChic Cultural Arts Exhibit
The AfroChic Cultural Arts Exhibit is a multi-disciplined mobile event which highlights young and emerging talent of African descent through visual arts, music, technology, wellness activations while showcasing the diverse culture of the Afro community. AfroCh- ic Cultural Arts Exhibit is seeking to travel to Accra Ghana in partnership with the Ministry of Tourism to activate a once in a lifetime experience attracting a global audience. Set to take place on Saturday De- cember 21, 2019 and Sunday December 22, 2019 the vision for the AfroChic Diaspora Festival is a two-day tech and digital virtual reality inspired fest that will ex- plore where technology and design intersects with a focus on the arts, health, technology and political representation. Event curators, honoured guests and spectators alike will be probed to ask the question “what does a black Utopia look and feel like”? The event will attempt to answer this question.
Organiser:- AfroChic
14th December
The Creatives Art Show
“The Creatives Art Show”, an event of four plus years in the running, brings together Ghanaian and foreign artists living in the country. These individuals get to meet art devotees coming from various parts of the world, to interact, network amongst themselves in addition to share desires as artists and art lovers. Artists can market and in due course sell work pieces to possible buyers. The main goal for the event is to Promote Ghana through Creativity, to unify and highlight these great artists. NVA Marketing and Promotions was fortu- nate to have held its 1st and 2nd art show at the Afrikiko Lei- sure Center in Kanda, the 3rd at the Nubuke Foundation in East Legon and the most recent the 4th at the Ndoleb Event Center in Tesano all of Accra. The 4 past events proved suc- cessful with the help of a NVAMP’s marketing efforts, support from Ghana Tourism Authority, The Chinese Embassy, The Embassy of Ethiopian, Embassy of Malaysian, popular media houses and many others.
Organiser:- NVA Marketing and Promotions
24th December
PinexGinja
PinexGinja (Pine and Ginger) is the ultimate merger of Ghanaian and Jamaican cultures, using music and performance to curate a tropical themed party ex- perience for lovers of the vibrant parts of Jamaican culture, in Accra, Ghana.
Organiser:- Ford Communications
24th December – 4th January
Full Circle Festival
International celebrities, including Boris Kodjoe, Idris Elba, Naomi Campbell, Edward Enninful, An- thony Anderson and many other have convened in Ghana where they will be introduced to many facets of Ghanaian culture, through a bonanza of musical events, activities, empowering roundtable discussions, day trips showcasing Ghana and its rich culture.
Organiser:- Diaspora Affairs Office of The President
26th – 27th December
Sankofa Music Concert
Music concert with special guest from around the world
Organiser:- Minitry of Tourism Arts & Culture
26th December
Return Rumble
The event is called the Return Rumble and will feature International professional fighters from the diaspora returning to Africa to challenge some of the best fighters across the Ghana for WBF Pan Af- rican titles at Bukom Boxing Arena on boxing day 2019.
Organiser:- Future Proof Boxing
27th – 29th December
RE-CONNECT FEST 2019
RE-CONNECT FEST 2019 , is an experience that promotes wealth building, self-esteem, education, and en- tertainment for all people of color in Africa and in the dias- pora.
Organiser:- CLASS OF 83’ INC.
28th December
Afrochella
AFROCHELLA is a festival designed to highlight & elevate thrill- ing and thriving millennial talent from and within Africa. The festival is an interactive event that encourages collaboration, explains and explores culture with a pioneering approach. The day features a festive celebration of our culture in the form of: Art & Fashion Installations, Live painting, The Best of African Cuisine, Live performances.
The festival’s purposes is to tell the New Africa story from a na- tive’s perspective. All aspects of the festival from the theme to the production are an ode to the ingenuity and available services in Africa. Our goal is to optimize the experience & en- gage the attendees with the culture in an authentic yet inno- vative approach. We look forward to sharing this experience as a footstep into a new tradition of bringing people together in Africa for tourism and Pro-African development.
29th December
African Royalty Night: The Gala
Brought to you by the organizers of Afrochella. This will be an elegant night of dancing and entertaining. Organiser:- Culture Management Group
29th December
Accra Under The Stars
An elegant outdoor pop up dinner which will gather diasporans from all walks of life for a spectacular evening of dining and dancing.
Organiser: Accra (dot) Alt
1st – 3rd January
This is New Africa 2020
Dialogues, community service, and concert featuring Fuse ODG.
Organiser:- New Africa Nation
