Africa Basketball Festival launched in the United States

RITE Sports successfully launched the Africa Basketball Festival (ABF) in the United States on Saturday, August 17, 2024. 

The event, held at the Holiday Inn Suites in Laurel, Maryland, brought together a diverse group of government officials, community leaders, basketball players, fashion brands, and music industry figures to celebrate basketball, culture, and unity.

The launch featured a range of activities, including a meet-and-greet session, a fashion exhibition, and speeches from distinguished guests. Organizers unveiled plans to kick off a global tour in 2025, starting in the United States, France, and several African countries that have previously participated in the festival. This global tour will serve as a lead-up to the main festival, set to take place in Ghana later in 2025.

"We are incredibly proud of the success of the launch of the Africa Basketball Festival in the U.S.," said Yaw Sakyi Afari, CEO of RITE Sports. "The event was more than just basketball; it was an opportunity to bring people together, celebrate diversity, and promote unity through sports and culture. The enthusiasm and support from the community were truly inspiring."

Yaw Sakyi also expressed excitement for the future of the festival, stating, "We look forward to building on this momentum and making the Africa Basketball Festival a truly global event, bringing together basketball teams, fashion brands, and music from different countries. This is just the beginning, and we are excited to see how this festival will grow and continue to inspire future generations."

The launch event was attended by several notable figures, including Councilwoman Wala Blegay of District 6th Prince George’s County, Maryland; Pops Mensah-Bonsu, President of Minor League Operations for the New York Knicks and SEED Academy Ghana; Gabriel Njinimbot, former candidate for U.S. Congress MD04 and Prince George’s County Council at Large; Mr. Albert Kwabena Dwumfour, President of the Ghana Journalists Association; Dr. Kwadwo Agyapong-Berry, Chairman/CEO of BG Group; Ghanaian politician Atik Mohammed; Latoya Samuels, United Nations NGO Consultant and former Secretary of the USA Ghana Chamber of Commerce; and Irene Dele-Ajejumo, Founder and CEO of Omolewa Cosmetics.

RITE Sports extended their gratitude to partners Vulcan Companies Inc, Amy Butler Foundation, JMK Production LLC, USA2GHANA, as well as the volunteers and attendees who contributed to the success of this landmark event.