ACCRA, GHANA September 7, 2022 — Culture Management Group (CMG) announced today Burna Boy and Stonebwoy as the musical headliners for Afrochella Festival 2022. To accompany these two heavy hitting artists, the two-day futuristic event will also include Afrobeat stars like Fireboy, Kidi, Ayra Starr, Medikal, DJ Juls, DJ Loft and more. With such an unstoppable musical lineup, this highly anticipated event is set to return to El Wak Stadium in Accra, Ghana from December 28th through December 29th. 

Afrochella is a celebration of Africa’s diverse culture and vibrant work showcased by the continent’s many emerging creatives, artists, and entrepreneurs. This year, Afrochella’s theme is “AfroFuturism,” a term created to reflect on the past, explore the future and create a progressive path for the present African diaspora. 

To bring “AfroFuturism” to life, Afrochella’s music festival will be transformed to encompass several cultural concepts – all created to take a step into the future of art, music, fashion, culture and food. Each area will bring together a mosaic of local artists, musicians, culinary enthusiasts and creatives to design an interactive and unexpected universe for festival goers to enjoy. 

“As we embark on another year of celebrating African culture, Afrochella will bring “Afrofuturism” to life through our core elements of music, art, fashion and food. We will explore the endless possibilities of what “Afrofuturism” could look like in 2022 and beyond.” – Abdul Karim Abdullah, CEO & Co-Founder of Afrochella 

As one of the most celebrated cultural moments in Ghana, this year we have the exciting challenge of bringing 20,000 travelers to the country. We plan to not only achieve this goal but to make Ghana the premier destination for all travelers around the world.” – Kenny Agyapong Jr., COO & Co-Founder of Afrochella 

The Afrochella Festival will comprise of 50 vendors including 15 fashion, beauty and the arts merchants as well as 35 food vendors featuring cuisines from all over the continent including Ghana, Kenya, Nigeria, South Africa, Ethiopia, Senegal and more.

This year, Afrochella will also be introducing “Afrocanteen,” a one-of-a-kind exclusive food experience, located right on the festival grounds. 

The Afrochella Expo at Afrochella House will kick off on December 18th and run through December 31st. The Afrochella experience will feature the following flagship events and elements: 

● Afro Expo 2022 Presented by Afrochella House: A two week expo located at the Afrochella House, a cultural content center that will host a series of digital experiences, wellness sessions, screenings and panel discussions in the world of culture, technology, health, sustainability, music and art – connecting the 

diaspora to industry experts and changemakers building opportunities on the ground and across the continent. 

● Rising Star Challenge: Artists across the African continent will have the opportunity to submit their musical profile for a chance to perform at the 2022 Afrochella Festival. The 1st place winner of the Rising Star Challenge will win a grand prize of $2,500, a studio session with an acclaimed producer and more. 

● Fashion Night Out: Afrochella presents Fashion Night Out, an evening to celebrate the innovation and beauty of African Fashion and its multi-talented designers with art installations and live performances. 

● Afrochella Music Museum: A museum-like experience that will take the audience on a journey through the past into the future with live performances, art installations, and digital and printed imagery. 

● Afrochella Talks: A conversation series dedicated to discussing African business, music, food, and creativity. 

● New Year’s Eve Celebration x PVO: Afrochella partners with PVO to bring in the New Year with an unforgettable end of year celebration. 

For more information on Afrochella 2022, please visit www.afrochella.com and follow @afrochella on Twitter, Facebook and Instagram to stay up to date on the latest news and events.

SOURCE: Afrochella

The shining ‘Black Star’ of Africa is ready for you to come and celebrate your December in Ghana. Each year the holiday celebrations in Ghana keep getting bigger and attracting people from around the world. Expectations are high for this year as global tourism continues to increase. “Today as we launch ‘December in GH’ 2022, we take pride in seeing Ghana continue to be the leading country of choice for travel during the holiday season in West Africa,” said the Minister of Tourism, Arts and Culture, Dr. Ibrahim Mohammed Awal. “Tourism has become one of the most important sectors in Ghana’s economy and shows no sign of slowing down. We anticipate that ‘December in GH’ for 2022 will become record-breaking as more travellers take the journey to Ghana,” he said at the official launch event which took place at La Palm Royal Beach Resort on 4th August 2022.

‘December in GH’ was originally launched in 2019, during the Year of Return as a tourism activation and has since become an important part of marketing events that attract thousands to visit Ghana for the holiday season into the new year. “‘December in GH’ is one of the biggest activations in our tourism sector and one that touches on the three pillars of our ministry; tourism, arts and culture,” said Akwasi Agyeman, CEO of Ghana Tourism Authority (GTA). “Many of the events are also central to the pillars of the ‘Beyond the Return’ initiative as we continue to engage with the historical diaspora community….Events in December have become flagships that attract people from around the world who plan their vacation in Ghana around event’s dates.” Despite the pandemic the last couple of years, people in the global diaspora community have continued to visit Ghana and have especially looked forward to some of the popular events that celebrate the country’s culture through music, fashion, live performances, food and culture.

Derrick Johnson, president of the NAACP, was in attendance for the launch receiving a citation for the work he has done since 2019 in bridging the gap between the diaspora and Ghana. “Ghana is important to Africa, Ghana is important to the diaspora,” he said in his address. “Once we link as a diaspora we are stronger…it’s through the African diaspora that we can succeed.” The citation was presented to him by the Ministry of Tourism, Arts and Culture, the Ghana Tourism Authority and the Beyond the Return secretariat. “We look forward to the continued development of our relationship with the NAACP in encouraging the diaspora to make the trip to Ghana,” Agyeman said.

Some of the industry stakeholders present at the event included the Mayor of Accra, Elizabeth Sackey, the Board for the Ghana Tourism Authority, Steering Committee Members for Beyond the Return, the Deputy Minister of Tourism, Arts and Culture, Mark Okraku Mantey, CEO of Ghana Investment Promotion Centre, Yofi Grant and the Director of the National Commission on Culture, Edna Nyame. Along with industry stakeholders, some event organizers were also in attendance at the launch. Some of the events returning for this year include Afrochella, Afro Nation, Akwaaba UK, Rhythms on da Runway, Kids in Tourism, GT Bank Concern, BHIM Concert, Joyful Way and A Taste of Ghana. There are some exciting new events also added to this year’s calendar of events, which will soon to be announced in the coming weeks.

By: Ivy Prosper

Afrochella has officially announced dates for this year’s festival which marks the fifth year anniversary of the event. This year it’s a 2-day festival happening 28-29th December 2022 at El-Wak Sports Stadium in Accra. Expect the event to be even bigger than last year as they continue to shine a spotlight on African culture through music, dance, art, fashion and food.

Stay tuned for more details about the festival as its announced or visit their website at www.afrochella.com.

The Ghana Tourism Authority, under the auspices of the Ministry of Tourism, Arts, and Culture, has joined forces with one of the biggest cultural brands to come out of Ghana; Afrochella. Yesterday, the team behind Afrochella signed a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU), with Ghana Tourism Authority to continue promoting Ghana to the world through collaborative efforts that will encourage travellers to choose Ghana as their preferred holiday destination.

Afrochella has been a major event contributing to the growth of Ghana’s tourism industry and a changemaker when it comes to changing the narrative of Africa. The festival highlights the culture of Africa through music, art, fashion, food, dance and installations that promote all things Africa.

The Minister of Tourism, Arts, and Culture, Dr. Mohammed Ibrahim Awal, said this partnership would not only serve to promote the fun and leisure activities and experiences, but also encourage opportunities for trade and investment in Ghana. “Since the inception of the Afrochella festival six years ago, you have demonstrated a lot and we know that you can achieve this target,” the minister said in reference to the team helping support the tourism ministry’s goal of 2 million tourists coming to Ghana annually. “Our current image alone makes people want to come into the country, so support us with your network to bring in these people to have fun, leisure, do business and invest.” The minister pledged to give the team the needed support to help achieve the targets.

Abdul Karim Abdulla, one of the co-founders of Afrochella expressed his appreciation for the support of the tourism ministry and Ghana Tourism Authority in their vision. “In 2019 we saw about 16, 500 people [attending Afrochella],” Abdulla said. He announced that this year the festival would be two days and have the goal of attracting 20, 000 attendees this time. “We have a series of events not only to get people to come back to Ghana, but to also invest themselves in Ghana, in the people of Ghana and in the community as well,” he told Minister Awal and CEO of Ghana Tourism Authority, Akwasi Agyeman. The other members of the Afrochella team include Ken Agyapong Jr., Edward Asafu Adjaye Kobina, Alvin Bekoe and Vernell Akyeampong.

After the official signing of the MoU, the team were inaugurated as official Goodwill Tourism Ambassadors for Ghana and decorated with the Beyond the Return official Kente sash by the minister. Everyone is looking forward to the positive impact that will come from this partnership in the coming years.

By: Ivy Prosper

This year the festival featured a partnership with YouTube, Twitter and Instagram. The festival grounds featured interactive areas where festival-goers, often called ‘Afrochellans’, could take pictures and create videos to share their experiences for YouTube and Twitter. One of the most popular installations was one that featured the distinct culture of people in Northern Ghana.

Visit our Beyond the Return Facebook Page to see more highlights from the event.

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Culture Management Group, the organization behind Afrochella, has announced a partnership with YouTube Music.  This is a groundbreaking collaboration that aims to bring music programs to the continent of Africa.  This will help to develop the next generation of African artists and support their aspirations in the music industry.  There will be a one day in-person event hosted by the Afrochella Music Museum on December 27^th at 12pm at BBnZ Live in Accra. 

Beyond the Return is excited to have endorsed the Afrochella Music Museum as part of this year’s December in GH events.  There are so many youth in Ghana who will benefit from this event which will provide insight into developing a career in the music industry.  This aligns with the ‘Invest in Ghana Pillar because it’s a program that will invest in the talent development of young Ghanaians helping them to become competitive on an international level.

The Future Insiders program will provide the opportunity to learn hands-on the skills from music professionals and industry experts.  The event will include two production master classes on the art of making beats.  Ghanaian producers Juls and Guiltybeatz will be the industry experts teaching the class.  Future Insiders is a portion of the Music Community Pillar of the Black Voices Fund which is designed to create opportunities for young people to get exposure and learning tools.  They’ve partnered with many community organizations in New York, Los Angeles, Houston, Atlanta, London, Rio de Janeiro, The Bay Area, Lagos and now Accra.  

“We’re so proud to join #YouTubeBlack to bring musical education resources to Ghana,” said Abdul Karim Abdullah, CEO and Co-Founder of Afrochella. “With the help of this program, we can continue to inspire and influence the next generation of young African artists. Afrochella has long been a beacon of light for young talent in Africa and we are thrilled to partner with them to further strengthen our commitment to empowering the next wave of Black voices.”

The one-day event will also include panel discussions that will offer insight and important information on the music industry. 

The topics that will be covered include the following:

• Future Voices of Africa: A rich conversation with the next generation of voices and leaders in African music. 
• A Queen Leads: A session spotlighting the innovation and creativity led by women in the music industry. 
• The Diaspora Effect: A discussion about the diaspora’s effect on the growth of African music.

For more information on how to attend and participate in the one-day event, contact Afrochella by email on info@afrochella.com or visit their website at www.afrochella.com.

By: Ivy Prosper

Ghana continues to be the destination of choice in West Africa during the holiday season with thousands of travellers arriving in the country throughout the month of December.  Ghana Tourism Authority (GTA) has recognized this as an opportunity to engage with the diaspora community by encouraging them to partake in the various activities that attract them to the country for the season.  GTA and the Beyond the Return Secretariat announced last week that events would be coming on in December, for which covid-19 protocols would be put in place. 

Today, they officially announce the full calendar of endorsed events for their annual ‘December in GH’ (December in Ghana) activities.  “We’re excited to share all the events happening in Ghana for the holiday season,” said Ms. Annabelle McKenzie, Director of the Beyond the Return Secretariat. “This time we have also endorsed events happening in other regions including the Volta Region, Upper East Region and Western Region. We’re looking forward to having Ghanaians come out to enjoy the activities and connecting with the diaspora who will be travelling to Ghana once again for the holidays.”

Afrochella is one of the biggest cultural events in Ghana and one of the most highly anticipated.  It was the first to officially announce they would be back for this year’s December in GH activities.  Scheduled for 28th December at El Wak Stadium, it promises to be a celebration filled with Africa’s diversity through music, art, food and fashion.  

A Taste of Ghana will be back once again to celebrate the unique cultures of Ghana by showcasing food, fashion, and music of the various regions.  The event will be on 27th December and is a collaboration of Ghana Tourism Authority, Ghana Investment Promotion Centre and Beyond the Return.  Other confirmed events on the schedule includes Diaspora Transition, Migration 2 Ghana, Diaspora Drive, GUBA Tours, Polo Beach Club, Fashion Connect Africa, A Joyful Way – Explosion of Joy and many more.

The team is looking forward to the events attracting people from around the world as travel restrictions have eased over the last few months.  Last week, it was announced that covid protocols would be put in place to ensure the health and safety of guests at all events throughout the season.  

Beyond the Return is a 10-year initiative and a follow up to the successful Year of Return in 2019 that attracted thousands of visitors to Ghana.  The theme for the initiative is ‘A Decade of African Renaissance’ and its foundation has seven pillars that touch on the areas Ghana is working towards in strengthening relations with its diaspora community.  Each of the events have their own unique traits that will align with the pillars which are; Experience Ghana, Celebrate Ghana, Give Back Ghana, Brand Ghana, Promote Pan-African Heritage and Innovation, Invest in Ghana and Diaspora Pathways to Ghana.

The team has noted that event organizers interested in having their programs included as part of the official calendar of events can still submit their proposals to the Beyond the Return Secretariat office via email at support@beyondthereturngh.com.  “We want all parts of Ghana represented this year so we are open to seeing proposals of activities taking place outside of Greater Accra,” said Ms. McKenzie.  

Organizers should note that in order to be endorsed they must comply with the covid protocols that were announced last week.  These were set by the National Covid-19 Task Force and the Presidential Advisor on Health, Dr. Anthony Nsiah Asare.  The CEO of Ghana Tourism Authority, Mr. Akwasi Agyeman said, “Guests will be required to present covid-19 vaccination cards prior to entering all the events that are going to be endorsed.”  He also said that face masks would be required for all attendees aged five and above, temperature checks upon entry and sanitizer systems must be utilized. 

Follow Beyond the Return on social media @beyondthereturn on both Facebook and Instagram for updates as events share more details.  Also visit the website www.beyondthereturngh.com for updates under latest news stories. 

By: Ivy Prosper