Homofest is back

Writing as a cultural industry observer in the Ghanaian economy, I can say one thing for John Dramani Mahama. You can criticise him or his regime for everything, but you cannot take from him the foresight that led to the re-designation under which we have Tourism eating from the same bowl as Culture and its siamese twin, Creative Arts.

Take Homofest, the annual festival homogenising  all the traditional festivals of Ga-Dangme people. If its maiden edition last year was a resounding success, it owed everything to the new one-stop cultural and tourism planning which the re-designation of the ministry has made possible.

I will repeat the observation I made last year. At the planning level, Homofest, the homogenous grand celebration of all the festivals of the various traditional areas of Greater Accra, proved to be simultaneously a cultural, touristic and a creative arts event. For the first time in my over 30 years reporting of the sector, I saw public servants of artistic, cultural and tourist agencies, operating under one umbrella ministry, work so seamlessly to achieve such admirable homogeneity.

Simple: they were players obeying the whistle of one referee. The sector Minister, Mrs Elizabeth Ofosu-Adjare, was the head of an orchestra who, with a baton, conducted so many instruments and voices to produce such excellent symphony.

This year promises to be no less exciting for lovers of fun. For months and weeks, the Planning Committee has been at work, coordinating the activities of subcommittees of experts in programming, marketing and getting the best from all the needed stakeholders such as chiefs, artists, intellectuals, and more importantly, the buy-in of Ministers of State and Chief Executives of institutions responsible for local government, chieftaincy as well as everything that happens in Accra as a metropolis and Greater Accra as a region.

Give me everything about Homofest, but you would have given me nothing if you take away the Grand Durbar. For international tourists and to all who appreciate beauty, I can put you on notice about next Saturday, October 10. Venue is the Efua Sutherland Children’s Park. The occasion: the 2015 Homofest Grand Durbar.

It is a sight not to miss, and there is no better time to appreciate the totality of the rich Ga Dangme culture than what I describe as “the dance of the royals”. From afar, the kings and queens, the shikitele and mankralo of La, Kpone, Prampram, Ngleshie Alata, Ga, Tema, Nungua, Osu, Sempe, Shai and Osudoku announce their arrival, dancing in palanquins of all shades and colour. 

Before that day, however, I invite everybody to join me in the massive procession of the people as the float makes its way through the  streets of Accra. Come on! Join this cacophony of sights and sounds, from the irresistible rhythms of Kpanlogo to La-kpa and jama, the musical and dance genres for which the Ga people are well known.

That will be on Tuesday, October 6. 

The history, institutions, concerns and fears of Ga Dangmes will take centre stage when the people gather at the Exhibition Hall of the National Theatre on Wednesday, October 7, for the Colloquium. It is an occasion for all MMDAs and other institutions in Greater Accra to showcase their involvement or potential in tourism. One of the topics the Colloquium will deal with this year is ‘The Role of Chiefs and Queen mothers in the unity and development of Ga-Dangme’

Last year, I confessed that, “Never before had I sat over such a massive feast of kpoikpoi”. That was at the grand finale of the cooking competition and food bazaar. Take it from me, you haven’t seen such variety of gastronomic delights, both traditional (Ghanaian) and continental.  This year’s cooking contest will go with a wine show on Friday, October 9, at the Efua Sutherland Children’s Park.

I wonder whose wine – local or foreign.  The finale of the MISS HOMOFEST pageant takes place same venue, same time – 10a.m through 3p.m.