Festivals & Events
The Festival in Ghana Teaching Women to Love Their Crowns and Their Futures
For years, the map of global beauty was drawn in Paris, Milan, and New York. You followed the lines to the fashion capitals, to the glossy magazines, to the places that decided what was beautiful and what was not.
But maps, like beauty standards, are meant to be redrawn. And this time, the compass is pointing somewhere else entirely.
On March 21st, 2026, the coordinates shift to a palm-fringed stretch of sand in Accra. La Palm Royal Beach Hotel won’t just be hosting an event; it will become the epicentre of a movement that started, as most real things do, in a moment of quiet personal transformation.
The hook that should snag the attention of every woman from Brixton to Brooklyn, from Toronto to Johannesburg, is this: The woman who turned a haircut into a global conversation is calling us all home.
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Her name is Abena Boateng. And her story is not one of sudden fame, but of slow, deliberate roots.
Back in 2014, Abena did what millions of women do every day: she cut her hair. But for a Black woman, a haircut is rarely just a haircut. It’s a statement, a shedding, a confrontation with a lifetime of conditioning about what your hair should be. She began sharing that raw, unfiltered journey online. Not as an expert, but as a student of her own crown.
What grew from those early posts wasn’t just a following; it was a fellowship. A quiet understanding passed between women across oceans who saw themselves in her struggle with shrinkage, her experiments with shea butter, her moments of doubt and triumph.
She didn’t just build a community; she nurtured it. She caught the attention of the giants—Cantu, Shea Moisture—but she never stopped speaking like the woman next door who simply wanted to love her hair.
Now, she is launching the maiden edition of Crowned & Nurtured (CAN) 2026, and it feels less like a debut and more like a reunion.
This is not your typical expo with sterile booths and aggressive sales pitches. This is a one-day cultural current.
The schedule reads like a love letter to the culture: masterclasses where you learn the difference between a twist-out and a braid-out from someone who actually knows; a fashion runway where the models’ crowns are the main event; a village of vendors selling not just products, but solutions.
There will be kids running around in the activation zone, getting their first lessons in self-love. There will be art on the walls that tells the story of our hair through pigment and canvas.
There will be grooming sessions for the men who are finally ready to learn what their mothers never taught them.
And when the sun dips behind the Atlantic, the panels and chairs will be pushed aside for an after-party where the conversations continue, this time to a beat.
But the most interesting thread in the fabric of CAN 2026 is the quiet intention woven into its seams. Abena is using this platform to push past the mirror.
By introducing financial literacy through merchandise and publications for young people, she’s asking a radical question: What if loving your hair could also teach you how to build your future?
It’s a festival that understands a profound truth: A woman who knows how to nurture her crown is a woman who knows how to nurture her potential.
So, mark the date. Pack your scarf and your curiosity. The global beauty conversation has found a new accent, and it sounds like the waves of Accra meeting the laughter of women finally comfortable in their own skin.
The world is invited. But more importantly, the world is needed. Because a movement this big requires all of us to show up.
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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