Festivals & Events
Drumming, Spirituality and Scholarship: Ghana Hosts a Global Conversation on Black Sacred Arts
The sound of drums will open the morning, scholars will debate the meaning of sacred sound and ritual, and performers will carry centuries of memory through dance, song, and ceremony.
From July 22 to 24, Ghana will once again become a meeting point for some of the world’s most important conversations about African spirituality, creativity, and identity during the Black Sacred Arts Conference.
Hosted by the Yale Institute of Sacred Music, the annual gathering returns to Ghana for its fifth edition, bringing together artists, researchers, religious leaders, musicians, and cultural thinkers from across Africa, the Americas, and beyond.
For visitors unfamiliar with the phrase “Black sacred arts,” the conference explores how music, ritual, dance, storytelling, visual arts, and spirituality shape everyday life in African and diasporic communities.
At the heart of the event is the idea of Africa’s “triple religious heritage” — indigenous belief systems, Christianity, and Islam — and the ways these traditions continue to influence one another across generations. But this is far from a quiet academic meeting.
The conference moves through live performances, ritual demonstrations, sacred music discussions, shrine visits, and conversations that connect the spiritual with the artistic.
Visitors can expect a deeply immersive atmosphere. Opening performances by the Ghana Dance Ensemble and traditional Lunsi performers will fill the venue with movement and rhythm rooted in centuries-old traditions.
Scholars will examine everything from Ghana’s sacred trumpet music and Dagara gyil worship practices to digital Pentecostalism in Nigeria and Vodou aesthetics across the Black Atlantic.
One of the most anticipated experiences is the Lahare Kunde Shrine event, which offers participants a closer look at sacred spaces and ritual practices that are rarely accessible to international audiences.
Discussions on gender, spirituality, resistance, and performance will sit alongside lecture-demonstrations and musical presentations, creating a programme that feels as alive as the subjects it studies.
For international travellers, the conference offers something deeper than sightseeing. It provides an opportunity to encounter Ghana through its spiritual and artistic traditions rather than through tourist brochures alone.
For Ghanaians, it is also a chance to reconnect with cultural practices that continue to shape language, festivals, music, and community life, even in rapidly modernising cities.
Lunch shared between sessions, spontaneous hallway conversations, drumming echoing between lectures, and performances charged with emotion all contribute to the experience. The event becomes less about observation and more about participation in a living cultural dialogue.
As global interest in African history and heritage continues to grow, the Black Sacred Arts Conference stands out as a rare gathering where scholarship, spirituality, and performance meet in the same room — and where Ghana once again takes centre stage in that conversation.
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.
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.
When December arrives in Accra, the city begins to move to its own rhythm. Friends reunite, visitors return from abroad, and the nightlife fills with opportunities to meet new people and celebrate.
On December 4, LALID LIVE 2026 will add another gathering to the capital’s festive calendar, bringing guests together at Bloom Bar on Spintex Road.
A Night Out in Ghana’s Capital
Organised by AFROWAVE 2019, LALID LIVE is scheduled for Friday, December 4, from 9 p.m. to 11:30 p.m. The in-person event invites guests to enjoy an evening of entertainment and good company.
Although detailed information about the programme, performers and activities has not yet been provided, the event offers an opportunity to explore Accra’s contemporary social scene during one of the city’s busiest tourism periods.
Ghana’s December celebrations have become an important meeting point for residents, members of the diaspora and international travellers.
Alongside concerts, cultural festivals and nightlife events, these gatherings create spaces for reconnecting with friends, discovering new entertainment and sharing experiences across cultures.
Why Put LALID LIVE on Your Calendar?
For visitors, the event presents a chance to experience Accra beyond its daytime attractions, from historic landmarks to markets and galleries. Spending an evening at a local entertainment venue can offer a different perspective on how the city socialises and welcomes guests.
For Ghanaians returning home or looking for a night out with friends, LALID LIVE provides another opportunity to connect during the festive season.
Bloom Bar, located on Spintex Road, provides the setting for the gathering. Guests should check the official event listing for ticket information and any announcements about performances or additional activities before attending.
Whether you are visiting Accra for December or simply planning an evening out, LALID LIVE 2026 is worth considering as part of the city’s growing festive programme.
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