On August 4, 2018, members of the Ghanaian community across New York and neighbouring cities, New Yorkers, and visitors to the city will converge at Crotona Park, Bronx, to attend the 9th Annual Ghana Fest-NY, a display of Ghanaian culture and heritage.
The theme for this year “Celebrating our Culture”, will showcase a durbar of chiefs and Ghanaian queen mothers, live music, traditional drummers and dancers, Afrobeats, cultural cuisine, and a cultural bazaar. The Children’s Village will feature oware and ampeh demonstrations – age-old Ghanaian games – and will even have a hand at creating their own kente inspired woven crafts and adinkra prints. Coupled with ludo board games – another Ghanaian pastime – face painting, and cake and cookie decorating, it’s going to be a day to remember!
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The event will include performances and entertainment by Dreams Band, Ikenga Royal African Village, Divination, Clam Binny, Jay Baba, Nubia, Zick Drummers, Unity Live Band, Ota Benga, Maame Queen Coco Brown, DJ Onasis, Garifuna Warrior Dancers, Warri Society, and many more.
Confirmed special guests and political attendees include current and former Ghana Consul Generals to New York Honorable Samuel Amoako and Bernard Quantson, Ghana Mission Representative to the United Nations Amma Akyaa Pobee, Central Region Chief Nana Kwame Nyarko (Okra Wieresi) Odoben Hene, Akyem Bosome Traditional Area Chief Obrimpon Owusu Twum Bbarima I, Nana Adomaa Kyirekuaa, Ghana Eastern Region Queen Mother, Assemblyman Michael Blake, Bronx Borough President Ruben Diaz Jr., Bronx Borough Director Famod Konneh, and Council Member Vanessa Gibson.
The event will be graced with representation from New York City health, business, and education agencies, as well as representatives from Ghanaian cultural associations and faith-based organizations who will be on hand to provide attendees with relevant information on social, economic, and health services available to the community.
Ghana Fest-NY 2018 is being organized by the National Ghana Parade Council (NGPC), a non-profit 501(c) (3) organization, with support from the Ghana Consulate, Ghana Chamber of Commerce USA, Inc., Ghanaian Ministers Fellowship, among other Ghanaian Associations and organizations. NGPC’s mission is to promote and celebrate the diversity and richness of Ghanaian culture, empower Ghanaians, and make positive contributions within the Ghanaian community while developing and maintaining alliances with other African communities across the New York metropolitan area and beyond.
The annual Ghana Fest-NY heralds as NGPC’s signature event, bringing together residents and visitors from across the New York metropolitan area and further afield to revel in the sounds, sights, and delicacies that are hallmarks of the Ghanaian culture. All are welcome to attend this festive occasion.
“Ghana Fest-NY 2018 is a culmination of 9 years of community building and social entrepreneurship within the Ghanaian community in New York. Ghanaians should be proud of the positive mark they have made across all industries – the arts, music, business, sports, and the sciences to name a few. This event will showcase our culture in all forms. My hope is that we will inspire generations of Ghanaians to new heights for years to come”, says Catherine Cudjoe, President of the National Ghana Parade Council, and host of the Keymama Show. Dr Kofi Boateng, Chair of the Ghana Fest-NY Planning Committee echoed this sentiment. “Ghana Fest-NY is a positive step towards Ghanaian self-discovery, assertiveness, and civic awakening for Ghanaians today and for many generations to come.”
What: Ghana Fest-NY 2018
When: Saturday, August 4, 2018, from 11am-6pm
Where: Crotona Park, Bronx
Sponsors and Supporters: National Ghana Parade Council, Appolonia City, Gold Coast Super Market, Ardour Cakes, Amansan Radio, Unity Health Care, Warri Society, Prestige Travel and Tour, Kuwait Shipping, Accra Restaurant, and Healthfirst.
