Festivals & Events
The Day After the Parade: Where Accra Goes to Hear Itself Think
On 6 March, the official programme will proceed as usual. Speeches. A parade. Schoolchildren standing in the sun. It is important, yes. But if you want to feel independent, not just watch it, there is another place you should be.
The day after the flags go up, on Saturday, 7 March, a different kind of celebration is taking over East Legon. It is called Our Heritage through Music and Literature. And it is built on a simple idea: that Ghana’s freedom did not just happen in a conference room in 1957. It happens every time we tell our own stories.
Where the Stories Live
The event runs from midday until evening at the e-Ananse Library. If you do not know the name, you should. Ananse is the spider. The storyteller. The trickster who taught us that words have power. Holding an independence celebration in a place named after him tells you everything about what this day will feel like.
It opens with something quiet but necessary. A reading from Poetra Asantewa’s book, Someone Birthed Them Broken, put together with the Bibliophiles and Vibes Book Club. Before the music starts, before the crowd grows, there will be people sitting with a book, asking themselves what it means to be Ghanaian right now. That is the foundation.
Games That Remember
Between the literature and the music, the organisers have made space for something we do not do enough anymore. Play.
There will be outdoor and indoor Ghanaian games. The kind our parents played before screens arrived. It sounds simple. But watch a child learn ampe from an elder, or watch a tourist try to figure out our local board games, and you will see something shift. Culture passes from hand to hand in those moments. No lecture required.
Poetry That Listens
As the sun softens, the poets take over. Ancestors Answer Me is the name of the session, curated by Creatives Project Ghana. Four poets will stand up and try to connect the people who came before to the questions we are asking now. It could get heavy. It could get beautiful. Probably both.
The Evening Belongs to the Musicians
Then, the music.
TSIE, whose voice carries the weight of highlife and the lightness of now. Elsie Raad, who moves between genres like someone who refuses to be pinned down. Koo Kumi and Mr. Poetivist, both carrying the torch for spoken word and sound.
They will play acoustic. No heavy bass to drown out the thinking. Just voices and instruments, asking you to listen.
Why You Should Come
If you are visiting Ghana, you could spend your Independence Day weekend at a hotel pool. You would miss nothing but heat. Or you could come here, to East Legon, and sit in a room with people who are still figuring out what freedom means.
If you are Ghanaian, you could stay home. Or you could bring yourself and your questions to a place where we use music and words to do what Ananse always did—remind ourselves that the story is not over yet.
Date: Saturday, 7 March
Time: 12 pm – 8 pm
Location: e-Ananse Library, East Legon, Accra
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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