Culture
Accra to Host an Unmissable Weekend of Classical Music Experience by World-Class Performers
Classical music lovers in Accra are in for a rare cultural treat this weekend as internationally trained musicians take the stage at the British Council Hall on the Liberia Road for two evenings of refined piano performance and vocal excellence.
On Friday, January 9, at 6:00 p.m., acclaimed concert pianist Dr. George François will headline a classical piano recital at the British Council Hall. Dr. François—an alumnus of the famous Juilliard School in New York and a professor at Ashesi University—is a distinguished pianist, composer, arranger, producer, organist, and music director. He holds music degrees from the University of Ghana, the Royal Northern College of Music in Manchester, the University of Texas at Austin, and Stony Brook University.
Dr. François’ career has taken him across the United Kingdom, the United States, and the Caribbean, and his return to the British Council Hall marks a special homecoming to a venue linked to his early artistic journey.
The musical celebrations continue on Saturday, January 10 at 6:00 p.m., with a special concert titled “For Every Mountain – Classical Meets Gospel.” The one-night-only performance brings together legendary New York–based songstress Angela Watson, Cameroonian tenor Guy Bertrand K, and Nigerian lyric tenor Kelvin Uhondo. The vocalists will be supported by an ensemble that includes Dr. George François on piano and Keyara Fleece, a clarinetist and band teacher at Lincoln School.
The unmissable event is divided into two distinct but complementary halves. The first celebrates classical vocal music, featuring solos, duets, and trios drawn from works by Rossini, Puccini, Nino Rota, Giordani, George Gershwin, and Leonard Cohen’s “Hallelujah.” The second half transitions into gospel, showcasing beloved classics associated with Mahalia Jackson, Luther Barnes, the Clark Sisters, Richard Smallwood, the Brooklyn Tabernacle Choir, and Edwin Hawkins.
Beyond its artistic ambition, the concert carries deep symbolic meaning. It coincides with the 53rd anniversary of the New Horizon Special School, founded on January 10, 1972, by Madame Salome Anyorkor François of blessed memory. The concert’s title, “For Every Mountain – Classical Meets Gospel,” reflects her enduring faith and belief that every challenge carries the promise of triumph and gratitude.
The event is jointly organized by the New Horizon Special School—a cornerstone of special education in Ghana for over five decades—and La Foundation for the Arts (LAFA), a nonprofit organization committed to artistic excellence and cultural preservation. Proceeds from the concert will support educational and art therapy programs for underrepresented communities.
Tickets are priced at GH¢1,000 and can be purchased via the shortcode 71411*22#, or in person at the New Horizon Special School Administration Office near the Cantonments Roundabout, opposite the Togo Embassy. For inquiries, the public may call 050 623 0600.
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The organizers have expressed gratitude to Consolidated Bank Ghana (CBG), the British Council Ghana, and the Edward Osei Boakye Trust Fund for their sponsorship and support.
Water splashes against an imaginary wall as people gather to witness one of the most powerful stories in Ewe history.
In Ve-Deme, in Ghana’s Volta Region, the Velukusi Festival brings an ancestral struggle for freedom into the present, transforming a story of oppression, courage and escape into a living act of remembrance.
Celebrated during the first week of October, Velukusi commemorates the traditional account of the Ewes’ escape from the cruel rule of King Aghorkoli in Togo. According to the story passed down through generations, the Ewes were held behind a formidable wall.
Determined to break free, they repeatedly poured water onto a section of the structure until it weakened and collapsed.
Their escape did not end with the fallen wall. To conceal their direction of travel, they walked backwards, leaving misleading footprints for those who might pursue them. This extraordinary detail has become a defining feature of the festival’s historical re-enactment.
Bringing Ancestral Courage to Life
During Velukusi, the community revisits the escape through a dramatic performance that allows younger generations and visitors to connect with the experience of their forebears.
The re-enactment gives physical expression to a story that speaks of collective determination, ingenuity and the enduring human desire for freedom.
The festival reaches its climax with a colourful display of traditional cloths and beads, followed by a grand durbar of chiefs.
Traditional regalia, customary leadership and communal gatherings place Ewe identity at the centre of the celebration.
A Living Heritage
For the people of Ve-Deme, Velukusi is more than a historical commemoration. It strengthens community bonds and keeps ancestral memory alive at a time when younger generations are increasingly exposed to global influences.
For visitors exploring Ghana, the festival offers an opportunity to encounter the Volta Region’s heritage through storytelling, ceremony and traditional craftsmanship.
Velukusi reminds us that freedom is worth remembering—and that experiencing the traditions of Ve-Deme is a meaningful way to understand the resilience of the Ewe people.
Reels & Social Media Highlights
Ghana’s Timeline Erupts: Showboy’s Crude Plea, Asantewaa’s Silence, and a Nation Divided
On Wednesday, 14th October 2026, Ghana’s social media didn’t just trend — it combusted. At the center of the firestorm: Showboy, a deported ex-convict and self-styled provocateur, posting a video begging TikTok star Asantewaa to sleep with him because “everyone has chopped her except me.”
The phrase — crude street slang for sex — detonated across Facebook, X, and TikTok, splitting users between outrage, disgust, and reluctant laughter.
The Asantewaa saga had been simmering for weeks. First, rapper AMG Armani claimed a one-night stand and a pregnancy.
@notorioustrend1 Showboy Goes Hard On Asantewaa For Exp0sing Some Secret In Her Marriage On TikTok Live #ghanabloggers #ghanatiktok🇬🇭 #asantewaaaaa #showboy #notorioustrend ♬ original sound – Notorious🥷 Trend📸
Then Asantewaa herself explained she left her husband over sickle cell genotype compatibility, insisting she wasn’t with Armani until after the split. Showboy’s video poured petrol on the embers.
But the timeline wasn’t only burning with celebrity gossip. In Obuasi, the GES interdicted a headmaster accused of sexual misconduct after students rioted and vandalized school property.
The story — girls alleging assault inside the headmaster’s bungalow, a menstruation claim used as pretext, a school in ruins — resonated because it echoed a painful national truth: institutions meant to protect children often fail them.
Meanwhile, in Agona Nkwanta, a viral video of a man assaulting his wife led to a three-month jail sentence on the very same day, a rare moment of accountability that many users celebrated, even as they questioned why it took a viral clip for justice to move.
What made October 14th distinctly Ghanaian was the collision of these stories.
A culture wrestling publicly with how women are treated — by men like Showboy who see clout in disrespect, by authority figures who abuse trust — while simultaneously turning tragedy into meme fodder, joke captions, duet videos.
As the festive season winds down, Accra has one more reason to stay awake. Live in Ghana – MaddFest arrives at Alora Beach Resort on January 3, 2027, promising six hours of nightlife and celebration for partygoers eager to keep Ghana’s festive spirit alive.
Organised by December in Ghana, an event organiser with experience hosting entertainment events, MaddFest forms part of the social energy surrounding Ghana’s popular festive season, when music, nightlife and gatherings draw locals and international visitors together.
A Night Out by the Beach
Scheduled for Sunday, January 3, from 10 p.m. to 4 a.m., the event offers an opportunity to experience Accra after dark in a beach resort setting.
While specific performers, food offerings and activities have not yet been detailed, the event’s late-night format promises an extended opportunity for guests to socialise and enjoy the city’s entertainment scene.
Ghana’s December festivities have grown into a major attraction for the diaspora and international travellers, with concerts, parties and cultural gatherings creating opportunities to reconnect with home and discover contemporary Ghanaian music and lifestyle.
Events such as MaddFest contribute to this atmosphere, where entertainment becomes a meeting point for different generations and cultures.
Why MaddFest Deserves a Place on Your Calendar
For visitors, MaddFest offers a chance to experience Accra’s nightlife beyond daytime sightseeing.
Ghanaians returning from abroad may also find it an opportunity to reconnect with friends and enjoy the country’s lively entertainment culture.
The event is not presented as a traditional cultural festival, but its social setting reflects the role music, dancing and shared celebrations play in Ghanaian life.
With Alora Beach Resort providing the setting, guests can plan a night out that extends into the early hours of Monday morning.
Whether you are visiting Ghana for the festive season or simply looking for another reason to enjoy Accra, Live in Ghana – MaddFest offers a date worth considering. Check the official event listing for ticket details and announcements before making plans.
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