Accra: The Ghana Tourism Authority (GTA) in collaboration with the FESTAC Africa Secretariat has launched the 2025 edition of FESTAC Africa, in Accra. FESTAC Africa aims to celebrate African heritage and foster connections across the continent and seeks to position Ghana as a cultural tourism hub and a beacon of Pan-African unity.
According to Ghana News Agency, the week-long celebration from September 21 to 27, 2025, will be on the theme, ‘Reimagining the African Renaissance’ – Harnessing health, culture, trade, climate change, gender equity, and tourism for sustainable economic growth. Mr. Yinka Abioye, Chairman of FESTAC Africa, expressed 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 Dr. Kwame Nkrumah’s birthday.
He said the festival would showcase the continent’s cultural heritage through performances and called on Ghanaians to actively participate and showcase their culture, inviting regional and continental performances, with Kenya already confirmed to present plays. Mr. Abioye mentioned that some activities lined up for the festival include cultural performances, conferences, exhibitions, movie screenings, sports, health walk and screening, durbar of chiefs, and tree planting. He added that the festival also anticipates over 100,000 visitors and delegates, with over 1,000 cross-border road carnival from Nigeria through Benin and Togo to Ghana, and with support from the African Union.
Mrs. Maame Efua Houadjeto, Chief Executive Officer, GTA, expressed the Authority’s support for the festival and highlighted common threads and trends of African fashion, characterized by colorful clothing and beads that unite the continent from north to south. The event marks a milestone for tourism, the creative sectors, and the broader narrative of African development, she said, and appealed to the FESTAC Secretariat to organize a master class for local artists as part of the program for the event, leveraging the presence of art dignitaries.
She said understanding and embracing one’s identity is a vital aspect of tourism, expressing her excitement about the inclusion of domestic tourism in the festival, and encouraged attendees to explore Ghana’s natural beauty, cultural and tourist sites, diverse people, languages, and culinary delights. Mrs. Houadjeto emphasized the significance of networking at the event, and reiterated the GTA’s plans to adopt the festival, showcasing their commitment to its success.
FESTAC Africa is a Pan African Festival that transcends borders, brings together nations, regions, and communities from across the African continent. It is rooted in history, as it originated from the Festival of Black and African Arts and Culture (FESTAC) first held in 1966. The inaugural FESTAC was held in Dakar, Senegal, then 10 years later moved to Nigeria, then in 2022, to Zanzibar. The festival also aims to reconnect Africans in the diaspora with their roots on the continent and celebrate the achievements and contributions of Africans across various fields, from art and music to business, leadership, and sports.