Festivals & Events
Where Yam, Tradition and Royalty Meet: Inside Ghana’s Ohum Festival
The rhythmic beat of traditional drums echoes through the streets as men and women dressed in vibrant kente and colourful cloth make their way towards the palace grounds.
The aroma of freshly prepared yam dishes drifts through the air, while the sound of jubilant singing welcomes visitors from near and far.
In Akyem Abuakwa, in Ghana’s Eastern Region, this is more than a festival—it is the annual homecoming known as the Ohum Festival, a celebration that blends harvest, history, faith and identity into one unforgettable experience.
Observed between June and July, Ohum marks the first yam harvest of the season and serves as a thanksgiving ceremony for God’s blessings over the past year. It is also a time for the people of Akyem Abuakwa to seek divine favour for abundant harvests, peace and prosperity in the months ahead.
Beyond agriculture, the festival commemorates the founding and enduring unity of the Akyem nation, making it one of the most significant cultural events in the area.
The festival’s origins are rooted in the deep relationship between the Akyem people, their land and their Creator. Traditionally, no one is permitted to eat the new yam until the ceremonial rites have been performed.
This custom reflects respect for the harvest and gratitude for nature’s abundance before the community begins to enjoy its fruits.
Throughout the celebration, chiefs, queen mothers and elders appear in splendid traditional regalia, accompanied by the sounding of talking drums, horn blowers and cultural troupes. A grand durbar brings together traditional leaders, government officials, residents and visitors, offering a colourful display of Akan customs and royal pageantry.
Prayers and libation are offered to honour ancestors and ask for continued protection over the people.
The festival is equally a social occasion. Families reunite, old friendships are renewed and the towns come alive with music, dance, storytelling and community feasts centred around freshly harvested yam. Local artisans and traders also benefit as visitors explore markets filled with handmade crafts, traditional textiles and regional cuisine.
Today, the Ohum Festival continues to play an important role in preserving the cultural heritage of Akyem Abuakwa while introducing younger generations to the customs that define their identity.
It also strengthens tourism in the Eastern Region, giving international visitors an authentic opportunity to experience Ghana’s living traditions beyond its famous landmarks.
For anyone seeking to understand the heart of Ghanaian culture, attending the Ohum Festival offers far more than colourful celebrations.
It is an invitation to witness a community expressing gratitude, honouring its ancestors and celebrating a heritage that has endured across generations—a journey that leaves lasting memories long after the drums fall silent.
Festivals & Events
Velukusi Festival: Re-enacting the Ewe Escape to Freedom in Ve-Deme
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.
Festivals & Events
MaddFest 2027: Welcome the New Year with a Night of Celebration in Accra
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.
Festivals & Events
LALID LIVE 2026: An Evening of Entertainment and Connection in Accra
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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